Amblyopia test volunteers

Amblyopia test volunteers
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries' Amblyopia Vision Screening Program is seeking volunteers to help test preschool children in Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties for amblyopia, commonly known as lazy eye.
Amblyopia is reduced vision in an eye that appears normal but was not used to achieve detailed vision during development, resulting in low vision. Of the 2,362 children screened here from July 2002 to June 2003, 191 were referred to their doctor for eye exams.
There will be a volunteer training session at the Goodwill facility at 2747 Belmont Ave. at 11 a.m. Sept. 18 by Natalie Haslage from the Ohio Department of Health.
Screenings begin in September and go through April. Volunteers can work in their community, or if they're willing, in other communities that are short of volunteers. Volunteers screen in teams and can get their own teams together.
For additional information on amblyopia, volunteering, or attending the training session, contact Nancy Chambers, amblyopia coordinator, Tuesday or Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at (330) 759-7921, Ext. 203.
Hubbard library CPR class
HUBBARD -- Humility of Mary Health Partners is offering a CPR class from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 19 at Hubbard Public Library. Teaching the class will be Mike Kerr, a registered paramedic, firefighter and educational coordinator for the Regional Learning Center for Cardiac Life Support at St. Elizabeth Health Center. The cost is $15 and is open to the public. Registration is required. Call (330) 480-2323.
Post-polio conference
WESTLAKE -- The Ohio Polio Network, with support from the Buckeye Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America, is offering a one-day conference on post-polio syndrome titled "Options for the Future." The event will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Holiday Inn West. To register, call (440) 461-7133.
Stroke treatment seminar
CANTON -- The American Heart Association will host the second annual Northern Ohio Regional Stroke Seminar from 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Kent State Stark Campus, 6000 Frank Ave. The seminar will focus on new stroke treatments and protocols and include presentations by Canton-area stroke specialists. Attendees are eligible for continuing-education credits. Dinner is included in the free seminar, sponsored by the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association; Sanofi/Synthelabo; and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
For information or to register, call (800) 282-0291.
La Leche events
The local World Walk for Breastfeeding, sponsored by La Leche League International, will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 23 in Firestone Park, Columbiana. Participants will meet at shelter No. 3.
For information about the walk, donations or the dinner aftere the walk, contact Nola (330) 427-2155; Heather, (330) 799-0478; or Kristin (330) 726-8339.
La Leche League chapters have scheduled the following meetings:
UWarren area: 6-7:30 p.m. Monday. Call Lisa, (330) 856-6707, or Serina, (330) 534-7733, for location.
UHubbard area: 7 p.m. Tuesday. Call Kristin or Heather for location.
UMahoning area: 10 a.m. Wednesday at New Life Assembly Church, 2250 E. Western Reserve Road. For information, call Amy, (330) 519-9506, or Janice, (330) 755-4391.
Exercise cutting muscles
Cutting with scissors is an essential skill best introduced between ages 2 1/2 and 3, so a child can use scissors skillfully during the preschool years. Some fun activities that strengthen the muscles used in cutting include:
USquirting water from squeeze bottles in the bath or pool.
USqueezing wet sponges, Nerf balls or play dough.
USqueezing barbecue or ice cube tongs (with a spring action). Use them to pick up colored pompons and place them in the cups of a muffin tin, egg carton or nesting cups.
UUsing an eye dropper to decorate a paper towel or coffee filter with colored water.
Safer shopping carts
Some Canadian researchers say more should be done to design safer shopping carts, and parents should be more aware of their dangers.
Researchers reviewed shopping-cart injuries seen at the Alberta Children's Hospital emergency department from March 1990 to December 2001 and found that injuries were most common in children under 5. More than a third of the accidents involved skull fractures, concussions and other head injuries, Reuters reported.
The most frequent modes of injury were falls from the cart (70 percent) and tipping the cart (14 percent). Boys were hurt more often than girls.