Guest Blog: MCS Awareness Month in Florida: Displays and Proclamations

May 062010

Each year, Christiane Tourtet champions observance of MCS/EMS Awareness Month in Florida.

By guest blogger Lourdes Salvador, MCS America.

Thanks in part to Christiane Tourtet, this is the 11th year in a row in which mayors of Broward County, Florida, have supported people with MCS through an annual proclamation for MCS Awareness Month. For the past two years, the mayor also has issued an annual proclamation for EMS Awareness Month. In 2009, the governor of Florida signed the 10th annual proclamation for MCS Awareness Month.

Each year, Christiane Tourtet makes a display for MCS Awareness Month at the local library in her home state of Florida.

Each year on May 1st, Christiane Tourtet erects a display at the Dr. B.L. Perry, Jr. Branch Library in Tallahassee, Florida, in honor of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and Electromagnetic Sensitivity (EMS) Awareness Month.

Christiane, who graduated from Jacksonville University, is the founder and president of International MCS/EMS Awareness. She enjoys writing, photography, and numerous arts.

During MCS Awareness Month, Christine places a sign at the entrance to the library to inform everyone who visits the library during the month of May that it is MCS/EMS Awareness Month in Florida. The display itself is usually located on the 2nd floor and is chock full of information, flyers, and resources to explore.

This is the 11th year in a row in which mayors of Broward County, Florida have supported people with MCS through an annual proclamation for MCS Awareness Month. For the past two years, the mayor also has issued an annual proclamation for EMS Awareness Month.

In 2009, the governor of Florida signed the 10th annual proclamation for MCS Awareness Month.

There are many other proclamations requested by various organizations in the United States and Canada. MCS America has a list of all known proclamations in the US and Canada here and provides tips for how to request a proclamation in an annual event planning kit for both MCS and EMS.

Sensitivity to various chemicals affects over 45 million people in the U.S., and 3 million are currently diagnosed with MCS. With a plan that includes avoidance and control of environmental triggers, many people with MCS can recover and lead normal, healthy, and active lives.

EMS affects at least 9.8 million people in America. People who are sensitive to electromagnetic radiation have significantly higher natural rates of membrane leakage as measured by their skin conductance. This leaking of ions short-circuits natural electrical potentials and triggers nerve impulses to the brain.

These environmental health conditions are the result of global chemical and electromagnetic radiation pollution. Annual expenditures for health care and lost productivity due to environmental illnesses are estimated at $71.8 billion dollars per year.

More information on MCS and EMS may be found at MCS America and International MCS/EMS Awareness.

Thank you, Christiane, for such a wonderful job educating everyone who comes through the library during May!