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Show W"" "b- - '9&4 " Citizen, Hev-U-. I, Officials concerned with FAS The Utah Department of Health, views Fetal Acholol Syndrome (FAS) as a major public health concern. According to the Centers for Disease Control, FAS is the leading cause of mental retardation and birth defects in the nation; it is also preventable. Clinical studies have shown that heavy use of alcohol by pregnant women may result in a pattern of abnormalities called Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Children with FAS may show a wide range of disabilities. The most consistent features in-clude a decreased weight, height and head size; impairment of in-tellectual and motor functions; and abnormal facial characteristics. The number of children in the United States with FAS is not known. The overall prevalence appears to be in the range of per 1,000 births, based on both American and European studies. Of course, the prevalence varies widely, depending on the location and population under study. As might be expected, estimates of FAS prevalence among babies born to women identified as problem drinkers or alcohol abusers are higher, ranging from 23 to 29 per 1,000. "If we use these national estimates, Utah has the potential for 40 FAS babies annually because we have 40,000 births per year," says Dr. Peter C. van Dyck, director, Division of Family Health Services, Utah Department of Health. "I'd say that we have less than 10 cases identified per year in Utah. It is a very difficult syndrome to diagnose. So many of the problems being associated with FAS can be attributed to other causes as well," he said. FAS is preventable. A national survey of 4,405 married mothers who delivered babies in 1980 found that 30 of women who drank before pregnancy slopped drinking while pregnant. Some pregnant women spontaneously reduce their alcohol consumption for physiological reasons. It is also likely that pregnant women will reduce or stop drinking if they are made aware of the ad-verse effects of alcohol on their babies. Evidence indicates that women who reduce or stop drinking before, and possibly even during, pregnancy increases their chances of delivering babies of normal birth weight. . The effects of mild to moderate-alcoho- l consumption are uncertain; also uncertain are the critical periods during pregnancy - from conception to delivery - when the fetus is at risk. I " cW p If On Valentine's M Day, what "5ggplLf M could be more 0 appropriate than WSIfi Sweetheart Roses fMM Carnations IJW or Plants? Jj I Flowers say "Love." Order Early! I Timp Valley IFloral 445 East State Road - American Fork i I- TW puffed heart with this J il&jl4 every gold purchaseJ I rMna leak Jfeweku 1IWIMo.n Ijjrgj) Cfift ? HOfX 756 3281 AMERICAN FORK. UTAH . felappy Valentine's Day V!' (.AM From your favorite X VtVV eCv JL hometown drive-i- n tv i restaurant. Offering thepik-- TA WV' . ' iMQ&jw&Ml Mfinesttoidn delicious I AH(vRaolumabalneticcouMpoovni)es I sNANV "j V 5&4feL-4UL4b- : ( f any new membership 1 Movie Pass EKluded.T TT"? Exclusive Betamax Club. V $x coSS f L. J tar Valentine's Day'S f0!y lijrKa--1 I i I ! 56-218- T 756-451- 1 aiillly Fizza ." New Spring Merchandise rX ' ( I Special Just in time for Easter jfelft I 1 ' ; Dresses - Junior or Misses I ' l Large 2-ite- m original crust, pitcher XV Tps - Knit or Dressy Jy f- -i V t of soft drink and order of garlic bread VVSlaS l 1 with this coupon J ( -, cK f k K.v VJW No takeout or delivery. Expires 22984 J u KW "Slndike j3CkS PlZZa y , American SL ( Fork VT I Lung Assoc. sponsors asthma training Hospital Auditorium from 4:30 to 6 p.m. The registration lee for these classes is $35. Once again, those with financial hardship can arrange to pay a-- partial fee. A completed physician's referral form is also required for these classes. A Childhood Asthma Self-Car- e Training Program will be con-ducted in Utah County by the Utah Lung Association. Enrollment is n now being accepted for children age 2 to 14 for classes beginning March 6. The classes will be conducted at Utah Valley Hospital in Provo. Parents attend the training program with their children. A physician's referral is required for registration. According to Franklin K. Brough, Executive Director of the Utah Lunch Association, the program teaches self-car- e skills and other asthma coping measures that help people relieve some asthma episodes. It helps children and parents gain control and self-eslee-to combat a disease that produces serious physical, social and emotional consequences for patient and family. Molly Welch, ULA Childhood Astham Program Coordinator says, "Children who implement self-car- e skills have been shown to have less hospitalization, fewer doctor visits, less school absenteeism and more The Preschool Asthma Program is for children age two to five and one or both parents. It consists of six one-hou- r class sessions held Tuesdays and Fridays from March 6 to 23. The classes will be held in the Utah Valley Hospital Respiratory Care Conference Room from 3 to 4 p.m. A registration fee of $25 and completed physician's referral form are required for Those who have financial hardship can make arrangements to pay a partial fee. This class will be limited to six children, so early registration is advantageous. The Family Asthma Program is for children age six to 14 and one or both parents. It consists of eight one and one-ha- lf hour class sessions, held Tuesdays and Fridays from March 6 to March 30. The classes will be conducted in the Utah Valley Cold spell prevailed January weather brought good news and bad news to residents of Utah Valley. The good news: precipitation was only 1.05 inches, which is 69 percent of the normal of 1.51 inches, reported Dr. Dale Stevens, professor of geography and weather specialist at BYU. The bad news: cold, record cold. "This was the coldest January since 1955," Stevens said. "The average temperature for the month was 19.9 degrees F. Our average high was 27.6 degrees while the average low was 12.2 degrees. This is much lower than our normal highs for the month at 40 degrees and colder than our n ormal lows of 19.3 degrees." Stevens said a total of 14 inches of snow fell during January, mostly in light amounts. Two or three times, however, about three inches fell as weak storms passed over the area. The maximum snow depth on the ground for January was 15 inches, while the average was 9 inches. Temperatures rose above freezing on Jan. 1 to 34 degrees to 33 degrees on the 10th, 35 on the 12th, and a "heat wave" from the 23rd to the 29th when the temperatures were above freezing, hitting a high of 40 degrees on the 25th, Stevens noted. The professor said if February has a normal precipitation of 1.43 inches, that will help spring -- summer runoff. But the area still faces March and April -- - the time when a spring wet cycle begins. Snowpacks in the mountains above Utah Valley are about 131 percent of normal. "Based on what snow we have now and if conditions continue at the current pace, we could still have some severe flooding and landslide problems," the professor said. |