For Immediate Release       

Contact:   Sherry Milligan
cell (817-939-3996)
milligan@aarc.org

 

Local Public Can Get In On the Action at the American Association for Respiratory Care Annual Convention

The public will have two chances to interact with respiratory therapists from the American Association for Respiratory Care as the group convenes their annual International Respiratory Congress Dec. 6-10 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

This convention, the largest meeting for respiratory therapists in the world, begins with the U.S. Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality addressing attendees about health reform and quality health care services. Dr. Carolyn Clancy will give the Keynote Address.

While most of the show is devoted to programming for respiratory therapists, the attendees at the meeting will reach out to the local public in several ways.

Ride the Shuttle

One exciting feature of the exhibit hall this year is a 20-foot shuttle that simulates a ride through the lungs. This feature will be open to the public on Wednesday, Dec. 8 from noon to 3 p.m. and is sponsored by the COPD Foundation, an organization devoted to sharing information and raising awareness of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Health Fair

On Thursday, Dec. 9 at The Boulevard Mall, 3528 S. Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., the AARC will host Your Lung Health , a public forum for those who want to learn more about their lungs.

Get Tested in the Drive4COPD Program

At either event – the shuttle ride or Health Fair – you can ask to take a simple 5-question screener to see if you're at risk for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. AARC is a sponsor of the Drive4COPD program ( www.drive4copd.com ), also sponsored by NASCAR. Anyone taking the screener will be entered into a drawing for a NASCAR event. Danica Patrick, Patty Loveless, Jim Belushi, Bruce Jenner, Michael Strahan, and Billy Ray Cyrus also back the program.

 

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The American Association for Respiratory Care is a 50,000 member professional association of respiratory therapists. The organization is dedicated to raising awareness of lung health issues and providing information about lung disease. The AARC is holding its 56 th International Respiratory Congress in Las Vegas, Dec. 6-10.