HEARTBEAT
Newsletter of the Kankakee Heartland Chapter of the NFBI
Summer edition June, 2005
Questions, comments? Contact:
Bryan Turner at (815)939-7386, or e-mail at: Bryan_turner@sbcglobal.net
If you would like to submit anything to the newsletter, you can e-mail it or send it to:
Bryan Turner
1814 E. Maple
Kankakee, IL 60901
Contents:
·From the president
·News-Line
·June fundraiser
·Affiliate fundraiser
·Summer awareness-heat stroke
·Autobiography (Ray Flescher)
·Glaucoma (featured eye disease)
·Odds & Ends
·Member birthdays
From the President:
Summer is on the way and many activities are starting up. We have our fundraiser in June, the national convention in July, plans for the summer picnic are under way plans for Meet the Blind month will begin and the state convention will be coming up before we know it.
I know that many of our members are unable to get out for many of these activities, but we need all of those that are able to help out where they can. The more people that we have in attendance, the better appearance we can make to the rest of the community.
I am always more than willing to help out anyone that asks, so please call me if you would like assistance of any kind. My phone number is: (815)939-7386, and if I am not there, please leave a message so I am able to call you back when I return. The Kankakee Heartland membership has remained stable, and I would like to see it continue to grow as we make a difference to the visually impaired community. Thank you, and enjoy the summer months ahead of us.
NEWS-LINE
As many of you are already aware, the Kankakee Daily Journal is now on News-Line and available to the disabled at the touch of a finger. Thanks to the donation of Ray Flescher and the persistent work of several others in the NFB, we can now keep up with the news happening here at home as well as across the country. Please don’t waste this valuable resource, or the time and funds that have been put into it.
If you are signed up for News-Line, put it to use. If you are not signed up for this service, please contact Bryan Turner, so that we can get you using this service quickly. You may reach Bryan at (815)939-7386. You may also call the National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore at (410)659-9314, and then press #3 on the main menu. If there is no answer, leave your name, phone number with area code, and let them know that you would like to be signed up for News-Line.
This past Friday, June 10, there was an article on the front page of the Daily Journal featuring Ray Flescher’s generosity called, “Did you hear?” There was also a picture of Bryan Turner and his guide dog Madison, while he was using the News-Line service. There were some errors in the article, which are being addressed at this time, but you should get the idea of how important this is to many of us in the NFB.
June Fundraiser
Our next fundraiser is coming up quickly. We will be holding it on June 17, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the Bradley WAL-MART. With this being the Friday before Father’s Day, we expect this to be a busy day. This year we will be selling a Hawaiian Mix package of dried fruits including; pineapple, banana chips, papaya, dates, raisins and coconut. There will also be plenty of information on the NFB along with copies of Voice of the Diabetic and Braille alphabet cards to hand out with contact information on them.
Right now, we have our normal group of volunteers to help out, but would appreciate help from anyone that has a couple of hours or more and would be willing to help out with our cause. If you have time available for this, please contact Ruth Isaacs at: (815)939-1839 so she can put you on our schedule. Remember, this helps us to help those visually impaired persons that could use the services of the NFB; it also helps to make the community we live in aware that there is such a need.
Affiliate Fundraiser
The National Federation of the Blind of Illinois is now selling T-Shirts and sweat shirts. These shirts are going to be sold at the affiliate table at the national convention, but shirts can be ordered now.
On the front of the t-shirt, above the bust line, the letters, NFB will be in Braille and below the Braille will be the sentence in 60 point font: Blind is not a 4 letter word thanks to the NFB. The print and Braille will be in puffed paint. The t-shirt colors are red, royal blue and jade. The sweat shirts will have the same printing, but will come in colors of red, royal blue and black. Both t-shirts and sweat shirts are 100% cotton. Shirts are available in: small, medium, large and extra-large. XX large can be ordered but will have an extra charge. The T-Shirts are $10 and the sweat shirts are $20. The dead-line for orders is June 30, so if you would like to place an order, please contact Bryan Turner at: (815)939-7386 by June 28.
Summer awareness-Heat Stroke
What are the health dangers of exposure to warm weather?
After a long cold winter, most of us are anxious to enjoy the warm days of summer. As soon as the sun comes out we are outside working in the garden, enjoying Outdoor sports or just taking a nice long walk. Besides planning ahead for the wonderful warm weather activities, people also need to plan ahead to prevent serious problems caused by the heat.
When the weather's hot, your body works overtime trying to keep cool. Excess heat escapes through sweating, exhalation of warmed air, and increased blood flow to the skin. But hot weather can overwhelm those mechanisms, leading to a wide array of uncomfortable symptoms. If nothing is done to remedy these Symptoms, serious harm even life-threatening problems can occur.
The following are the three most dangerous types of heat-related ailments listed in order of severity. These conditions can occur in stages:
• Heat syncope---fainting caused when the body compensates for too much heat by diverting blood from the brain to the skin.
• Heat exhaustion---extreme fatigue characterized by muscle aches, nausea, and fever. Additional symptom include clammy skin, diarrhea, rapid pulse, vomiting, and weakness.
• Heat stroke---failure of the body's temperature control systems. Heat stroke can be fatal depending upon severity and treatment. Symptoms include confusion, Agitation, hyperventilation, racing pulse, lethargy, convulsions, and eventually loss of consciousness. The body temperature rises to extremely high levels, sometimes above 110 degrees Fahrenheit, which can damage major organs.
If you are aware of the danger signs of heat-related illnesses, life threatening situations can be avoided. You also need to keep in mind those symptoms can develop over several days or strike during a single burst of strenuous activity. Two conditions, which signal that your body is under extreme stress from heat, are heat edema, and prickly heat.
Heat edema is swelling of the hands and feet when blood vessels expand and allow fluid to pool under the skin. People often notice this first when their shoes feel too tight or one their rings won't fit the finger that they used to wear it on. Prickly heat is an irritating rash that is caused by a blockage of the sweat pores, usually under clothing. This often happens when people overdress for the weather or wear clothing that is very fitted and doesn't "breathe".
Neither of these conditions is harmful, but you need to view them as warning signs that you should cool off to avoid a more serious condition. You can remove or loosen heavy and restrictive clothing, move out of the sun if possible, and drink fluids immediately.
Seek immediate medical help if you or someone else develops any of the following symptoms during hot weather:
• Confusion, lethargy
• Agitation
• Intense muscle aches, feverishness, or nausea.
• Convulsions or loss of consciousness
While you are waiting for help to arrive you can provide support for a heat stroke victim:
• Take the person out of the heat
• Fan with a newspaper or towel
• Sprinkle with water
• Elevate the feet to direct blood back toward the head
• If the person is conscious, offer plenty of fluids
Of course, preventing heat stroke and related conditions is always the best advice. Remember these tips and you will be able to enjoy the warm summer or at least tolerate it without life threatening problems.
• Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing
• Limit vigorous activity during hot, humid weather
• If you have to exercise in the heat, start with brief workouts and increase them gradually over two weeks or more. Try to schedule your vigorous exercise
During cooler morning or evening hours.
• Drink plenty of water, before, during, and after exercise. Drink more than you need to satisfy your thirst. Also, remember drinks such as soda and coffee have caffeine and can actually rob your body of fluids so drink these sparingly.
• Avoid alcohol before, during, and immediately after you exercise. Alcohol causes you to lose more fluid than you consume.
• Talk with your doctor about any medications you are taking, prescription and over-the-counter, and how they may interfere with you body's ability to regulate temperature. Some of these include gastrointestinal drugs containing atropine (Donnatal); antidepressants or antipsychotics (Thorazine, Haldol, Prozac); Antihistamines (Benadryl); certain cardiovascular medications including beta blockers (Blocadren) and diuretics (Diuril); and Parkinson's disease medications.
If you use any of these medications, be especially careful to limit your exertion and drink plenty of water during hot, humid weather.
Be a smart consumer and anticipate what you will need to avoid problems with the heat. The long hot summer is a welcome change from snow and sleet, so enjoy it!
AUTOBIOGRAPHY (RAY FLESCHER)
This auto-biography will introduce you to Ray Flescher, a member of the local Kankakee Chapter of the National Federation of the blind of Illinois.
I was born August 23, 1923 on a farm near Westville Art, 6 miles from Danville Illinois. At birth, there was an excessive amount of fluid in my right eye which left me blind in that eye.
When starting first grade with vision in one eye, they placed me in a disabled class program in Danville. One week later, I was sent to regular school in Westville. At the age of 12 my family moved from our farm into Westville. It was much different walking ˝ block to grade school than walking 1 ˝ miles for the first seven grades.
After high school, I attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana where I stayed in a basement until suitable housing could be found. I worked on an Undergraduate course in journalism from 1941 to 1945. During this time, I worked at the honewood/Flossmore star. As I worked on a masters degree, I found that women and money were more important.
I met a woman at a square dance by the name of Nora who visited me three or four times a week during my three month recovery from a severe burn on my back due to scalding. Nora and I were married on October 10, 1954. Sometime after marriage, Nora combined our names to come up with the name Noray. Marriage increased the cost of living so I transferred from my job at the YMCA 20 hotel in Chicago to the Cadillac section of General Motors. I worked from the front office supervisor to handling new car warranties for the 4-state area. After this came total blindness. I noticed a Slight pain in my eye on a return flight from Canada.
The next day rather than going to the doctor to have my eye checked, I opted to participate in lake front activities. When I did go, a glaucoma test was not performed. I became totally blind in 1962. With this, I had to learn a new way of reading and writing. Nora helped me learn Braille one or two letters at a time. The state rehabilitation office told me that it would take 1 ˝ to 2 years to get into their program. I decided to take my masters program instead which started that fall. For this degree, I had to have a teaching certificate for grades 1 thru 12. I would have to take a 3 year program with 5 courses at a time. After this, I would be able to enroll in my masters in counseling. I received my Masters in 1965.
For 8 years after that, I was a counselor at a high school at 111th street in Chicago. Due to a drop in enrollment, staff reductions were going to be made eliminating my position. Without prior notice, 900 students came together on my behalf to keep me there. They arranged for journalist to be present on this holiday weekend when there was plenty of media coverage, which did keep me there for another year.
I began a 16-year career with the Hadley school for the blind teaching and doing some counseling.
My wife, Nora passed away in February 2002, I am currently retired, but keep very busy with many things such as daily exercise, ADA bus service, the National Federation of the Blind, using News-Line, the National Library of Congress talking books, Rotary club, Lions club, the Moose Lodge, K A R S radio club, air-travel, and church services.
I hope to keep doing these things until my death.
GLAUCOMA (Featured eye disease)
Glaucoma is the Second-Leading Cause of Blindness in the U.S.
Your eye has pressure just like your blood, and when this intraocular pressure (IOP) increases to dangerous levels, it damages the optic nerve. This can result in decreased peripheral vision and, eventually, blindness. Glaucoma is similar to ocular hypertension but with accompanying optic nerve damage and vision loss.
Glaucoma affects an estimated 3 million Americans, with 120,000 blind due to the condition. Elsewhere in the world, glaucoma treatment is less available, and glaucoma ranks as a leading cause of blindness just about everywhere. Even if people with glaucoma do not become blind, vision can be severely impaired.
There are two major types of glaucoma: chronic or primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and acute closed-angle glaucoma. Other variations include congenital Glaucoma, pigmentary glaucoma and secondary glaucoma.
Glaucoma Signs and Symptoms:
Chronic glaucoma (primary open-angle glaucoma or POAG) is often called "the silent thief of sight" because you have no warning sign, no hint that anything is wrong. About half of Americans with chronic glaucoma don't know they have it. Glaucoma gradually reduces your peripheral vision, but by the time you notice it, permanent damage has already occurred. If your IOP remains high, the destruction can progress until tunnel vision develops, and you will only be able to see objects that are straight ahead.
An acute attack of narrow-angle glaucoma, also termed acute angle-closure glaucoma or acute closed-angle glaucoma, produces sudden symptoms such as eye pain, headaches, haloes around lights, dilated pupils, vision loss, red eyes, nausea and vomiting. These signs may last for a few hours, then return again for another round. Each attack takes with it part of your field of vision.
Other signs include headaches, blurred vision, difficulty adapting to darkness, or haloes around lights. Chronic glaucoma normally develops after age 35.
Like POAG, normal-tension glaucoma (also termed normal-pressure glaucoma, low-tension glaucoma or low-pressure glaucoma) is an open-angle type of glaucoma that can cause visual field loss due to optic nerve damage, but in normal-tension glaucoma, the eye's IOP remains in the normal range.
Chronic narrow-angle glaucoma, like open-angle glaucoma, can be symptom less until vision loss occurs.
Open angle glaucoma is one of the most common forms of the disease.
Acute angle-closure glaucoma is a medical emergency. If the high pressure is not reduced within hours, it can permanently damage vision. Anyone who experiences its symptoms should immediately contact an ophthalmologist or go to a hospital emergency room.
It's difficult to spot signs for congenital glaucoma because the children are too young to understand. If you notice a cloudy, white, hazy, enlarged or protruding eye, consult your eye doctor.
Congenital glaucoma occurs more in boys than girls.
Pigmentary glaucoma often exhibits no symptoms at all. You may notice some pain and blurry vision after exercise. Pigmentary glaucoma affects mostly white Males in their mid-30s to mid-40s.
Symptoms of chronic glaucoma following an eye injury could indicate secondary glaucoma.
ODDS & ENDS
The Heartland Chapter summer picnic event has been set for Saturday August 6, 11 a.m., at Greenbriar restaurant located at 557 W. Lathem Drive, Bourbonnais. This is only blocks from the Municipal Center where our chapter meetings are held. All meals will be ordered from their menu, and you will be responsible for your own check. The food is very good and reasonably priced. If you require assistance with travel or cost, please contact Bryan Turner at (815)939-7386. Please remember that this is normally a meeting day, and there will certainly be some talk of the national convention, but there will not be a chapter meeting that day.
Board member Marcia Beck was in the hospital June 3, for out-patient surgery. Marcia said that everything went very good and that she is feeling better each day.
Ray Flescher also spent several days in the hospital, being released on June 2. Ray was able to attend the chapter meeting on June 4, and he is doing fine at this point.
June:
6-Meg Wenzelman
16-Margeret Earnhart
23-Seth Turner
28-Ruth Bivens
July:
21-Joan Simon-Rogers
25-Loretta Hoaster
August:
17-Joann Rushing
18-Linda Barbee
21-Ray Flesher
Have a great summer!
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