Augusta focus. ([Augusta, Ga.) 198?-current, May 30, 1996, Image 10

Augusta focus., May 30, 1996, Page 10, Image 10

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Newspaper Page Text10 May 30, 1996 AUGUSTA FOCUS Don’t go overboard: Designate a skipper for smooth sailing SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. Following the rules of the road can help save lives on the water this season. The Georgia Depart ment of Natural Resources, Wild life Resources Division and com munity and business leaders commemorated last week —the National Safe Boating Week — by launchingthe state’s first Des ignated Skipper Program, urg ing boaters to “Pledge Not to Go Overboard.” The Designated Skipper Pro gram encourages boaters to des ignate a safe skipper who will abstain from drinking alcohol while on the water. The cam paign also fosters water safety and responsible boating. The pro gram targeted Lake Lanier, one of the state’s busiest waterways. Already this year, there have been six accidents and one fatal ity on Lake Lanier. Statewide in 1995, 17 Georgians died and 83 more were injured in 121 boat ing accidents. Olympic Gold Medalist Steve Lundquist introduced the pro gram from Lake Lanier. “When you're piloting a boat, often filled with family or friends, their safe ty and yours is riding on your performance andjudgement,” he said. “The Designated Skipper Program reminds us to make re sponsible choices while on the water.” : The 1996 Georgia Safe Boat ing Campaign and the Designat ed Skipper Program is sponsored by TEAM Georgia, a sober driv ing coalition; the Georgia De partment of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division; and Miller Brewing Company. Beginning last week and con tinuing throughout the season, hundreds of bars, restaurants, marine venues and convenience stores in the Lake Lanier area will offer special incentives to boaters whotake the pledge. Par Friends or spouses may be solutions for patients awaiting kidney transplants Terri and Luther Stevens had to take a couple “reality-check” when Terri decided todonate one of her own kidneys to her hus band, Luther. “It’s rather unigue because Terri underwent a ma joroperation with all of the asso ciated risks that are involved, when she would derive absolute ly no personal medical benefit for having done so,” says Nicho las J. Feduska, M.D., director of the Ochsner Multi-Organ Trans plant Program. Until recently, kidney dona tions for transplantation came from deceased individuals or liv ingrelatives. Doctors have found Individuals & Investors 5% Down Payment for individuals 15% Down Payment for investors ALSO AVAILABLE ~ .VA & FHA Loan Programs, 15-year and 30-year fixed and adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) -Conventional Loans, 15 and 30-year -Construction/Permanent Loans Title 1 Loans (Manufactured Homes) .“B/C/D” Credit Program Under Non-Conforming FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL: Annette “Angel” Santos or Samantha Porcha Pager: 739-4605 Pager: 442-7362 04 [péa Mortgage Bankers N7k iidgetond [NDAZ) Phos: (70) 580-0005 m” “ m“"'.,gué::;. Associstion m (7.) m'm Subscribe to Augusta’s finest weekly newspaper! Call AUGUSTA FOCUS at 724-7855 today! ik L R S .'.' iﬂﬁ S RI R marg e T T I-ﬁ“ﬂmﬂ*mamw,‘} & ' S ticipating businesses will display posters, table tents and bro chures with the “Designate a Skipper” message. By signing a pledge to abstain from drinking alcohol while on the water, each safe skipper will receive a free non-alcoholic beverage and chances to win prizes in weekly drawings. Brochures on the Des ignated Skipper Program also include responsible boating guidelines and water safety tips. “In Georgia, where water sports are such a part of our lifestyle, taking our message of sober driving to the water is a must. Just ason land, it’s critical to designate a skipper who will not drink alcohol while on the water,” said TEAM Georgia Chairman Andy Arani. “Water and alcohol don’t mix. The ef fects of alcohol are compounded by the sun, doubling the rate of absorption.” The latest statistics from the that donations made by friends and spouses may have success rates nearly as high as those from related family members. In the United States, there are approximately 28,000 people on waiting lists for kidney trans plants but only about 10,000 kid ney transplants are performed annually. Much of this limita tionis caused by the severe short age in available organs donated by deceased individuals. The alternative of kidney do nations from friends or spouses has become increasingly success ful because of the availability of cyclosporine, a lifetime medica Livingßetter U.S. Coast Guard log the most boating accidents ever reported — 6,904 during 1994. The Coast Guard estimates half of all boat ing accidents are the fault of the boat operator. Collisions with other vessels are the most re ported type of accident. “The Georgia Boat Safety Act makes it illegal to operate a boat under influence (BUI) of alcohol or drugs. The maximum penalty for BUI isa SI,OOO fine and/or 12 months imprisonment,” ex plained David Waller, director, Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Re sources Division. DNR law en forcement officers are responsi ble for patrolling Lake Lanier and other Georgia waterways. Miller Brewing Company is active nationally in safe boating efforts and has sponsored simi lar campaigns in other states. “Miller wants to help promote responsible conduct on and near tion given to transplant recipi ents, which suppresses the im mune system and helps to pre vent rejection of the transplant ed organs. “This is a reasonable and real istic consideration for some pa tients,” says Dr. Feduska. “There are not enough organs available from the deceased, and the wait ing period for some patients can be a lifetime. In addition, not every patient has a relative who is available and medically suit able to donate a kidney. In addi tion, the state of health of pa tients with kidney failure can deteriorate significantly while Specialists in Real Estate Lending B Real Estate FHA - VA - Conventional B Refinances B Community Home Buyer Program 2743 Perimeter Parkway, Augusta, Ga. 30909 @ Augusta, GA: (706) 863-5626 Aiken, SC: (803) 649-7311 ; LENDER the water. We support law en forcement and public safety ef forts to keep our waterways and roads safe, and welcome oppor tunities to participate in public education programs like Desig nated Skipper,” said Maria Strello, Southeast Public Affairs Representative, Miller Brewing Company. Each year, almost 70 million Americans enjoy recreational water activities. It is always safer not to consume alcoholic beverag es while on the water. However, if passengers choose to drink alco hol, always designate a skipper. A safe guideline for passengers is to consume only onedrink orless per hour, but never on an empty stom ach or while taking medicine. For more information on the 1996 Georgia Safe Boating Cam paign and the Designated Skip per Program, call the Wildlife Resources Division at (770) 918- 6400. they wait for transplants.” Defined as functioning after two years without the need for dialysis treatments, the success rate is approximately 85 to 90 percent. “The donor is most often a spouse, but can be a fiancé or evena friend,” Dr. Feduska says. “This type of donation generates the special need to take into ac count additional emotional fac tors.” Adds kidney recipient Luther Stevens: “Emotionally, the sur gery has made us a much closer couple.” — From the Ochsner Medical Institutions HEALTH FOCUS ~ Women’s health needs unique By James L. Phillips, M.D. Baylor College of Medicine HOUSTON Yes, women and men are differ ent. That’s no news. And their need formaintaininggood healthisequal ly important, even if their health needs vary. The truth is that women often spend more time taking care of their families and careers than they do themselves. . A brochure, “Women’s Health: Ideas for a Lifetime of Wellness,”offered by Baylor College ofMedicinein Houston, recommends wayswomen canreduce theirrisk of disease by incorporating a healthy lifestyle into their hectic lives. Some good advice, even if you've heard it before, includes monthly breast self-examinations for lumps which, iffound, should be examined by adoctor;evaluation of risk factors suchas highblood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, smoking and fam ily history ofheart disease; and com plications of menopause such as Allied Bank of Georgia is pleased to announce that Cedric Johnson has joined its Augusta Banking Team \;%% - 4 » _ ' A Cedric Johnson Vice President Downtown, Augusta Branch Mgr. People Banking People i 3 e 700 Broad Street 706-821-3902 bleeding, trouble concentrating, memory impairment and signs of depression tobe evaluated by a phy sician for possible treatment. Some simple lifestyle changes, albeit challenging if youre new to “healthyliving,” mayincrease phys icaland mental well-being. Remem ber to do the following: -Eat a high-fiber, low-cholesterol, low-sodium and low-fat diet, includ ing fruits, vegetables, fish and lean meat. -Avoid alcohol, especially if preg nant, to prevent Fetal Alcohol Syn drome. -Exercise regularly. Take brisk walks, gobiking, or doother aerobics. -Don’t smoke. -Get regular check-ups that in cludecholesterol, blood pressureand bone-density screenings. -Get plenty of sleep. For a free copy of the brochure, send a self-addressed, stamped en velope to Women’s Health, We Care For You, Baylor Collegeof Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030. And enjoy good health! Down Home Banking Wherever You Are Member FDIC