The Squid Calendar

February 5, 2010 – Go Red for Women!

Today is National Wear Red Day sponsored by the American Heart Association. This is an day of awareness about the the impact of heart disease on women.

Heart disease is by far the biggest killer of women in the United States.  Indications of heart disease display themselves differently in men and women.  Learn more about heart disease in women:

National Wear Red Day: Heart Disease Awareness

Cancer is a leading cause of death around the world. Every day, thousands find out they have cancer.  Every day, thousands live with cancer.  And, every day, thousands die from cancer.

But, many are doing all they can to stop it.  This group of artists sell their art and contribute the proceeds to cancer related charities.

Art for Cancer Group by CaseyShannonStudio

These are the Squidoo charities that aid people with cancer, awareness, and cancer research:

• Athletes for a Cure
• DonnaBella’s Angels
• Michael’s Way
• The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

January is National Blood Donor Month.  Volunteer blood donation is crucial to the thousands that receive blood each year.  Both my mother and my sister have had to receive blood, and I am very thankful to the generous people who donated.  I myself am a donor, and I hope that , if able, you are as well.

Giving Blood by LonnieScott
The American Red Cross by Vacation-In-My-Head

Also, JohannTheDog shares the importance of dog blood donation.

Today kicks off National Handwashing Awareness Week (December 6-12, 2009). Take this time to remember the importance of handwashing, and to teach your children how to wash their hands properly, when to wash their hands, and why it is so important.

Mylittlescholar has a great place to start: Germs, Germs, Germs – An interactive guide for children and hand washing.

(photo by gabyu)

The economy has gone bad, the world is at war, but even though it is not discussed on the evening news as much as it used to be HIV/AIDS has not gone away.  It is still here.  It still kills millions.  It still ruins lives.

EchoTarpeian’s lens has some harsh statistics to prove it: Presently Over 33 Million People Living with AIDS.

Donnette introduces us to many children in Africa who know too well the destruction of this disease: Outreach Africa ~Bringing Hope To Africa’s Aids Orphans

What can YOU do for World AIDS Day?  Here are a few ideas:

(photo by Sham Hardy)

According to The March of Dimes, every year, 20 million babies are born too soon, too small and very sick ― half a million of them in the United States.  Premature birth is the number one cause of death during the first month of life.

Today I am blogging on behalf of Baby Jerry, once a premature baby, and now a happy toddler.

Learn more about Prematurity Awareness Month – Sponsored by the March of Dimes in this lens by Comfortdoc

(Photo by jdsmith1021)

Stop. Take a deep breath. And think about your lungs. You probably don’t do that very often, but there are many great men and women who think about them every day. We are in the middle of Respiratory Care Week:

National Respiratory Care Week by TherapyDept

(photo by: jesse.millan)