User:Ggbreathe/Breathe California/Sandbox

references:

http://www.breathecalifornia.org/



HISTORY

Breathe California began serving the Bay Area community in 1908 as the San Francisco Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis. The initial meeting of the founding board was held on Jackson Street in San Francisco on June 25, 1908. In 1908, tuberculosis (TB) was the leading cause of death in the United States, most often striking men and women of 20 to 40 years of age, in the prime of their lives as husbands, wives and breadwinners. The majority of those infected with TB were people living or working in unhygienic, crowded conditions. Immigrants, the poor and those without access to medical care suffered from tuberculosis in disproportionate numbers.

One of the first actions of the newly formed TB Association was to open a clinic where indigent TB patients could receive proper care. Nurses were also provided for home visits for TB sufferers. The dispensary and home visits were funded by a “very generous donation of $1800.00 a year by Mrs. William H. Crocker.” Other prominent San Franciscans on the Board of the TB Association were Mr. William H. Crocker, Mr. Jesse Lilienthal, Mrs. William Haas and Herbert C. Moffitt, M.D. Dr. R. Langley Porter served on the “Committee on Hospital and Dispensaries.”

Over the past 100 years, Breathe California’s name has changed but our core mission – fighting lung disease through prevention, education, advocacy and patient services – has remained the same. Today’s challenges to healthy lungs have expanded beyond tuberculosis, but our dedication to improving public health continues. Breathe California’s areas of service now include asthma prevention and management, reducing tobacco use and the public’s exposure to secondhand smoke, improving air quality and lessening the effects of emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

ADVOCACY

Breathe California is proud to be co-sponsoring AB 574, a new state bill authored by Assemblymember Jerry Hill (San Mateo) that would make all hospital campuses in California completely smoke-free! As centers for public health, hospitals have a responsibility to provide its patients, visitors, and staff with a healthy, clean air environment. This is especially important for at-risk individuals, including those with asthma, lung cancer and heart disease. In addition, AB 574 would require hospitals to post no-smoking signs and help refer patients to smoking cessation services.

AB 574 will be heard by the State Assembly’s Health Committee early this month.

LOCAL AFFILIATES

Golden Gate Public Health Partnership

Bay Area

Central Coast

Los Angeles County

Sacramento-Emigrant Trails