August 2010 eNewsletter |
Grant in Response to Tragedy:
| We have received a small grant from West Region EMS to provide training and technical assistance to the three school districts in north Pacific County. Sadly, they have experienced two teen suicides in the past six months so this timely grant will support training for staff and faculty, supplemental health lessons for students and technical assistance for principals in the enhancement of their crisis response plans. |
Firearm Safety During Well-Child Exams:
| The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that physicians introduce the topic of firearm safety during well-child exams with their adolescent patients. YSPP volunteer, Cheryl Berenson (ARNP & graduate student in public health) will collect information from parents – in a short survey – asking whether firearm safety has been discussed during a visit with their pediatrician. Given that the majority of youth suicides involve a firearm, a physician can play a very important role in prevention education. |  |
Welcome Aboard Sabrina!
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We are pleased to announce the selection of Sabrina Ross as our field coordinator in Spokane County. Sabrina knows the very personal side of loss with the suicides of two of her brothers. After completing a degree in public health from the University of Washington she worked for the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention in their Seattle office, organizing several community walks and a gala fundraiser. She was raised in Spokane and is thrilled to be returning “home” to facilitate the local suicide prevention task force and to deliver school and community prevention education. |
YSPP Benefit at the Seattle Center
October 30th at The Vera Project (Seattle Center) – that is the place to be!
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Victor Shade will be the headliner in a show with lots of talent, including Sol, Grynch, Militant Child & Kind of Blind. The event will be hosted by Washington native and 2010 US Olympic speed skating medalist, JR Celski. KEXP 90.3 FM will promote the event on air, Champions Costume shop is donating a costume contest prize, Theo Chocolates is providing BIG wrapped candy bars to the first 50 people in the door, and Jones Soda is giving soda to everyone in attendance. Tickets are $10.00. Proceeds will benefit YSPP and the Youth Council. |
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New Law to help STOP Overdose Deaths:
| More people are dying now from prescription drug overdoses than traffic accidents. According to Dr. Caleb Banta-Green, a researcher from the University of Washington, there were 794 drug overdose deaths in Washington State in 2008. These overdoses do not need to be fatal - death often takes several hours to occur and people are often present. A law that provides some legal immunity for people who report a drug overdose in Washington State is now in effect. That makes Washington the second state to enact a "911 Good Samaritan Law." Under the measure, if someone overdoses and someone else seeks assistance, that person cannot be prosecuted for drug possession, nor can the person overdosing. More information on the law is available at www.stopoverdose.org. |
Five things you should know about this law:
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