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CHECKING IN?Ruth Bragg and Ton
taking the pulmonary function test.
Pulmonary Te;
Peril i In r Chorl
-m. 'w M I IW '
Employees' "B
Clinton Mills' pulmonary medical surveillance
program is provided on a regularly
scheduled basis for those employees exposed
to cotton dust.
"The purpose of the test is to identify
those employees who react to cotton dust so
that protective measures can be taken,"
according to Sonny King, coordinator of
Clinton's Health and Safety Programs.
Annual and semi annual tests are conducted
by Respiratory Consultants, Inc. of
Columbia, under the supervision of Dr. Bob
Galphin. a leading pulmonary physician.
King noted that the annual and semi
annual rests are wen received by employees.
"Occasionally, we have someone who will
forget about the test and enter the plant;
thus, makinganother scheduled visit necessary."
Employees are asked to report before the
work shift for a pre test. Trained technicians
coach employees into blowing as hard as
Employees' Lit
Can Affect He
Many major health threats faced by us
iuuo; nu luiigci sicMi iruni me uredueu QI5eases
of the past, but rather from "lifestyle"
factors
Good health always ranks high on the list
of things people value most, yet this isn't
reflected in the behavior of many of us. Sta
tistics show that cigarettes, alcohol and lifethreatening
violence that can be prevented
(e.g. via choices such as using seat belts)
have become major causes of premature
death in the United States. Other modern
health problems can be related to untreated
hypertension, poor diet and lack of exercise.
kA
many vuai uiseabcb inai once were major
killers have been all but eradicated because
of effective vaccines. A prime example
would be smallpox. Instances of polio,
measles, mumps, rubella and tetanus also
have been reduced dramatically.
L
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mPVH^
i Sapp check in with Sonny King before
>ts Provide
(On
reathing"
they can into a "box-like device" called a
spirometer. It measures the amount of air
you can get out of the lungs in one second,
and the total volume of air.
"After a minimum of four hours in the
workplace." says King, "employees return
for a post test. The results of the pre test are
measured against set standards to see how
the employee compares to an average person
of the same age, height and sex.
"The purpose of the second or post test,"
noted King, "is that it detects any change in
lung functions during the shift "
Employees are advised of the results of
the tests, and where needed, are provided a
more detailed examination by Dr. Galphin.
In addition to the tests, employees are
asked to answer questions relative to their
respiratory health habits.
King or the plant nurses are available to
review an individual's medical records upon
request.
estyle
alth
In contrast, the incidence of cancer in
women has increased ten-fold in the last 50
years. And Public Health figures show that
high blood pressure affects one in six Amer
icans and is a significant factor in the
500,000 strokes and 1.25 million heart
attacks that occur each year in the nation.
Beyond all this is the estimate of 10 million
problem drinkers in the U.S
So it appearsclear that we. as individuals,
have a lot to say about the quality of our
health Yet. in too many cases we feel that
vavO aro immnrtal I - ? * *
V. IOI emu irau a incsiyie llldl
echoes this attitude. Health, for many
"seems not to be important until we lose it "
When we lose our health, we then have to
start paying more for health care. Can we
afford it? Let's stay healthy and reduce
medical care costs.
JV
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EXPLAINS TEST?Pulmonary functi
Bennie Franks how his pulmonary fur
gr. t.- ^V'^P
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ANSWERS QUESTIONS?William
White regarding his pulmonary health
SI
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POST TEST?Elizabeth Wessinger I
she has any pulmonary function chang<
Page 11
jjj^
on test specialist Pam Meeler explains to
iction studies are recorded.
jIhIH
McMinn answers questions for Cindy
habits.
1M
UL 4
akes post pulmonary st to determine if
es after a minimum of four hour exposure.