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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: October 4 ,.2011 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~- -b <br />SUBJECT: Recognition of Pink Campaign Sponsors <br />DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Pink Campaign Certificates of Appreciation Doris Cecil, 245-6100 <br />Kim Woodward, 245-6100 <br />PURPOSE: To recognize local business partners who were major contributors of money, <br />goods, or services to promote Breast Cancer Awareness through the Emergency Services Pink <br />Campaign. <br />BACKGROUND: Cancer is expected to surpass heart disease and become the leading cause <br />of death in North Carolina and the nation by the year 2015. One in eight women will get breast <br />cancer in her lifetime. Breast Cancer is not a disease that affects just women -approximately <br />1,910 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in men last year. Breast cancer risk increases <br />with age. Every woman is at risk. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in <br />women, exceeded only by lung cancer. Declining death rates are believed to be the result of <br />earlier detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as improved treatment. <br />The first sign of breast cancer usually shows up on a woman's mammogram before it can be <br />felt or any other symptoms are present. The American Cancer Society recommends that <br />women age 40 and older have a screening mammogram every year and should continue to do <br />so for as long as they are in good health. Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical <br />breast exam (CBE) as part of a periodic (regular) health exam by a health professional, <br />preferably every 3 years. <br />What is the Pink Campaign? <br />Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics and Telecommunicators serve many victims of <br />cancer annually. Many have relatives, friends and coworkers who are touched in some way by <br />this deadly disease. Members of Orange County Emergency Services (ES) will be promoting <br />Breast Cancer Awareness Month by wearing pink uniform hats and -shirts throughout the month <br />of October. Orange County Emergency Services' ambulances and units will be marked during <br />this month to further raise awareness for this effort. ES staff members will distribute literature to <br />the public and be prepared to answer questions. Members of Orange County Emergency <br />Services also participated for the third consecutive year in the Susan G. Komen race for the <br />cure in June, 2011. Plans are underway for a bake sale at A Southern Season on October 22 <br />to raise awareness as well as donate funds to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. <br />