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The Dr. Richard R. O'Toole Pediatric Fund

Another Compelling Reason to Think Before You Drink

December 28, 2009

in The Dr. Richard R. O'Toole Pediatric Fund

As concerned citizens, we share broad concern on such issues as underage drinking, drunk driving and binge drinking. Less frequently do our thoughts or actions address this very real scenario. 

Are you hoping that there is a baby in your future? 
Consider the young women named Eileen at a New Year’s Eve gathering at her home with her husband and many close friends on the south side of click to continue

Tagged as: Add new tag, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Health, Reproductive Health

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FASD, Please Help Us Stop It

November 30, 2009

in The Dr. Richard R. O'Toole Pediatric Fund

Did you know that Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in the most common preventable cause of birth defects in the United States?

The Dr. Richard R. O’Toole Pediatric Fund is committed to the mission of communicating the message that there is No established safe threshold of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. We want to build public awareness of the high incidence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), the huge financial cost to taxpayers and the countless tragedies resulting from this disability.

FASD, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, is an umbrella term for all fetal alcohol related disorders, such as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND) and Alcohol Related Birth Defects (ARBD). 

Maternal alcohol use is the leading known cause of:
• mental retardation
• birth defects
• Learning disabilities.  . 
• mental and physical birth defects

It surpasses  both Spina Bifida and Down Syndrome in these areas and produces more severe abnormalities than heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamine.

So how do we prevent it?

Education and information are the keys to reducing the incidence of FASDs.  As such, the Dr. Richard R. O’Toole Pediatric Fund is developing an advisory board, comprised of educators, medical practitioners, parents, grandparents, clergy, law enforcement and others interested in spreading this message.

In addition, the fund is expanding its “Markets on a Mission,” which brings both nutrition and education to areas and communities most in need.  Poor nutrition is among the many confounding variables to healthy birth outcomes and is more common than reported.  The economic downturn has only swelled the ranks of those in abject poverty, right here in Allegheny County.

Can you help us stop FASD?
• We are currently looking for people who are interested in serving on our advisory board. If helping to prevent FASD speaks to your heart, please contact us.

• We need your financial support!  Please consider helping us by donating whatever you can.

To learn more, please contact Dick O’Toole, Jr., at nofasd@aol.com, www.stopfasd.org, or call 412-398-1647.

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Tagged as: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Health, Pregnancy, Pregnancy and Birth, Reproductive Health

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