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There are some important observances highlighted during the month of April.
National Child Abuse Prevention Month is each April. Children's Services in our county placed pinwheels at the square in Lisbon. Each designates an abused local child. Pretty to look at are the pinwheels but sad to think what they symbolize. Those involved with Children's Service do fantastic jobs in being vigilant against scum trying to harm our children.
April is observed, too, as National Donate Life month. Folks are encouraged to consider becoming organ donors. We had an opinion piece on that last week.
Autism Awareness Month is observed in April. We have so many good folks in our area like those with the Columbiana County Board of Developmental Disabilities who extend tender care.
An Autism Awareness Day will be held tomorrow from 2-5 p.m. at Beaver Local High School. All are welcome to attend. We ran info on that on our page A1 earlier this week.
And a reader left recently a message recommending another observance to highlight. Honestly, we were had never heard of it. Thank you, caller, for the heads-up.
The Amputee Coalition designates April as Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month. That non-profit coalition is based in Washington D.C. It is the leading organization supporting those with limb loss and limb difference.
It website reads: "The group's mission is to reach out to and empower people affected by limb loss and limb difference to achieve their full potential through education, support and advocacy, and to promote limb loss prevention." To learn more: amputee-coalition.org.
Here some facts provided by the organization:
--2.1 million people are living with limb loss in the U.S.
--185,000 people have an amputation each year in the U.S.
--507 people lose a limb each day in the U.S.
--1,558 military personnel lost a limb as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
--3.6 million people will be living with limb loss by 2050.
--85 percent of lower-limb amputations are preceded by a foot ulcer.
--36 percent of people living with limb loss experience depression.
--Lifetime healthcare costs for people with limb loss is $509, 275 compared to $361,200 for those without limb loss.
--African-Americans are four times more likely to have an amputation than white Americans.
--Among those living with limb loss, the main causes are vascular disease (54%) -- including diabetes and peripheral arterial disease -- trauma (45%) and cancer (less than 2%).
--Nearly half of the individuals who have an amputation due to vascular disease will die within five years. This is higher than the five-year mortality rates for breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer.
--Of persons with diabetes who have a lower extremity amputation, up to 55% will require amputation of the second leg within two-to-three years.
--Gender of amputation parents: 69 percent male, 31 percent female.
--Age of amputations based on 2014 research: under 1 year old, 0.2%; 1-17, 1%; 18-44, 11%; 45-64, 46%; 65-84, 36%;, 85 and over, 6%.
For those living with limb loss you have our utmost admiration for dealing with the hardship and leading normal, productive lives. Your perseverance and inner strength certainly merits having a month designated to call attention to that. For those wanting a wide array of resources and additional information, please go to amputee-coalition.org.