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Here are several suggestions of events and activities from
CSAPs, Sleep Awareness Co-sponsors and NSAW Campaign Partners
that were implemented successfully in 2004. While they were
organized for NSAW, most can be done at any time of the year.
Case History #1: Media Relations
The Sleep Health Center in Fort Myers, FL, identified a new feature in the
News Press, a local newspaper with a readership of approximately 250,000.
The new feature was a column, “In the Trenches,” which features
an employee of an organization. In late February, The Sleep Health Center
suggested that the column highlight one of its key staff members, lead technologist
Brent Gray, RRT, RPSGT. They pitched the story idea and connected it with
National Sleep Awareness Week® 2004. On Monday, at the beginning of NSAW,
the newspaper published a two-page feature article with photos. In addition
to a valued staff member being recognized in the article, several people
contacted the sleep center to learn more about a career in polysomnography.
The article also generated interest from the local CBS television station
WINK-TV, which resulted in a 15-minute story on the early morning news program
later in the week.
For information, contact:
Cindy Bledsoe
Sleep Health Center
8381 Riverwalk Park Boulevard
Suite 201
Fort Myers, FL 33919
Phone: 239-466-2030
E-mail: cindy@sleephealthcenter.com
Case History #2: A Health Fair Luncheon
The Sleep Center at Eastern Connecticut Health Network, Manchester, CT decided
to hold a health fair and information luncheon during NSAW 2004. They began
planning for their event two months in advance by selecting the target audiences
(the public and physicians’ office staff) and set up meetings with
staff at the sleep lab. One month before the event, they mailed out letters
to vendors, asking for a $200 booth fee to help defray the cost of the lunch.
Their vendors included drug companies, homecare providers, and CPAP equipment
companies. They made posters publicizing the event that were placed in local
doctors’ offices, medical labs and homecare companies, where the public
would see them. Two luncheons were held: one at their facility, along with
an educational session on sleep disorders, given by the medical director.
The other luncheon was held at a local health club. Both luncheons included
presentations by the sleep lab manager and
vendors. More than 200 people attended each presentation, and the events generated
local news coverage about sleep.
For information, contact:
Laurie Lawson
Sleep Disorders Center at ECHN
71 Haynes St
Manchester, CT 06040
Phone: 860/647-6881 ext. 1
E-mail: LLawson@echn.org
Case History #3: A Mayoral Proclamation
Along with other activities planned for NSAW, last February The Sleep Disorders
Center at Trinitas Hospital in Elizabeth, NJ, came up with a plan to get
the city’s mayor to sign a proclamation declaring the week of March
29-April 4 National Sleep Awareness Week®. To call attention to the signing
of the proclamation, the sleep center staff prepared and manned an educational
display at City Hall where they distributed information about the importance
of sleep in adults and children; they also conducted a raffle to win a hot
tub in conjunction with NSF In addition, the staff scheduled the medical
director to appear on the Mayor’s local TV show to promote NSAW. Working
with the hospital publicity department, the series of events included participation
by the hospital CEO and vice president, as well as the sleep center’s
director and medical director.
For information, contact:
Nancy Gonzalez, RRT, RPGST
Sleep Disorders Center at Trinitas Hospital
210 Williamson Street
Elizabeth, NJ 07207
Phone: 908-994-8694
E-mail: ngonzalez@trinitas.org
Case History #4: A Physician Education Dinner
The OSF Saint Francis Sleep Disorders Center in Peoria, IL, conducted a physician
education dinner attended by approximately 140 physicians and guests. Prizes
were donated by local business to be awarded to participants who answered questions
correctly during a game similar to “Jeopardy” that tested sleep
knowledge.
The MEDSleep Survey was given at the start of the evening as a “pre-test” of
the physicians’ sleep knowledge. Those who completed the survey were entered
into a drawing for a prize. Participants browsed displays set up by sponsors
(pharmaceutical companies, home care companies, CPAP manufacturers, and the manufacturer
of the sleep recording system used in the sleep lab). Also on display were the
answers to the MEDSleep survey, as well as the answers to the quiz game that
was conducted during the dinner hour. Participants were awarded points for correct
answers, and prizes were given to those with the most points.
Two weeks following the event, the MEDSleep survey was mailed to those who took
the “pre-test” to determine if they retained the material. Those
who completed this “post-test” were entered into a drawing for a
prize.
The program was well received. Some comments by physicians included:
- “This
is the best CME program I have ever attended.”
- “All CME should
be interactive.”
- “You have spoiled me for other CME programs
now.”
Many sponsors said they will participate in next year’s program as well.
For more information, contact:
Sarah Zallek, MD
Medical Director
OSF Saint Francis Sleep Disorders Center
530 NE Glen Oak Avenue
Peoria, IL 61637
Phone: 309-624-9960
Case History #5: A Snoring Contest
Last January, the Skaggs Sleep Disorders Center in Branson,
MO, began planning for their NSAW activity – a snoring contest. They enlisted the support
of their hospital’s community relations department and determined the
contest’s parameters, including how entries should be submitted, judges,
when to announce the winner, and prizes. Promotions started in February with
local DJs announcing rules of the contest, and continued in March when an interview
was scheduled with the sleep lab’s supervisor. The winning snorer was
announced on a radio program and the award was scheduled to be presented at
a CPAP support group meeting.
For more information, contact:
Debbi Elfindale, CRT, RPSGT
Skaggs Sleep Disorders Center
545 Bus. Hwy 65
#304
Branson, MO
417/335-7558
E-mail: Dlelfindale@skaggs.net
Case History #6: Fun Run/Walk For Sleep
To kick off NSAW 2004, The Houston Sleep Center in Houston, TX, “hit
the ground running” by sponsoring a 5K “Fun Run/Walk” to
raise money for sleep education and research. All of the money raised from
the registration fees benefited NSF’s public education efforts.
The Marketing Department offers the following outline for conducting such an event:
Planning. Start planning the event early. Houston started
in the fall, giving themselves plenty of time to determine
the event location, plan the course and distance, and make
a budget for promotion, prizes, and liability insurance (an
essential!). Traffic control must be arranged in the area of
the event. Offer a “Post Race Party” to celebrate
your success.
Advertising: Promote your event several months in advance
through radio advertisements or public service announcements
and media alerts to the local newspaper and TV stations. Getting
the media to use the ads can help bring in more participants.
Don’t forget other media, such as health and fitness
magazines in your area and the health and fitness sections
of your local newspapers. Try to have these begin to appear
at least three months before the event, with frequent follow
up stories appearing in daily and weekly newspapers. Also create
flyers to post in doctors’ offices, sponsors’ headquarters,
and the offices of donating parties. Offer incentives for participants
and enlist the assistance of other sleep centers, if appropriate.
Start soliciting support from sponsors and vendors 6-9 months
in advance. Offer them the opportunity to provide donations
of food, water, prizes, or cash; or suggest that they purchase
space to set up a display booth to promote their business.
At the event, have food, recreation and information available
for everyone attending; in particular, have patient information
about the importance of healthy sleep. Make sure your sponsors
are recognized. Keep an accurate account of all participants,
and have medical assistance available in case of emergency.
For more information, contact:
Amy Green
Marketing Director
Houston Sleep Center
8333 Katy Freeway
Suite 104
Houston, TX 77024
(713) 827-8896
E-mail: greenlynnamy@yahoo.com or green@houstonsleepcenter.com
NSAW Sleep Awareness Co-Sponsors (formerly called Cooperative
Co-Sponsors), is a diverse coalition of health and safety organizations,
state and federal agencies, and non-profit organizations that
join the campaign to urge all Americans to recognize the benefits
of healthy sleep. Here are some examples of their past NSAW
activities:
The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning and Michigan
State Police, Motor Carrier Division
In 2002, the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (MOHSP) joined with the
National Sleep Foundation to assist in promoting events and activities throughout
the state aimed at increasing awareness of the importance of sleep. MOHSP issued
a press release and promoted the NSAW activities of several Michigan CSAP partners
on its Web site, such as free sleep disorder screenings, sleep center tours,
educational programs, and raffles. In addition to its NSAW efforts, throughout
the year the MOHSP reported on NSF policy statements and press releases in Road-Wise
Workforce, a publication that provides traffic safety news to employers in the
state.
For the last two years during NSAW, the Michigan State Police’s
Motor Carrier Division has held enforcement operations and education outreach
activities for commercial truck drivers. During NSAW 2004, 631 inspections resulted
in 78 citations for log book violation and 58 drivers were placed out-of-service.
Informational materials about fatigue were handed out at pull-overs and weigh
stations. NSF posters were hung in the scale houses.
Maryland State Highway Administration
In 2004, the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) announced that NSAW
and drowsy driving prevention were part of the Administration’s ongoing “12
Months of Safety” campaign. The Maryland Department of Transportation
reminded motorists that “Crashes are No Accident,
You Hold the Key.”That
key is getting enough rest to avoid drowsy and distracted driving – a
major cause of crashes in Maryland. During NSAW, the SHA initiated statewide
educational efforts to promote healthy sleep and combat distracted and drowsy
driving-related crashes. Free educational material was distributed to drivers
at several locations and information aimed at teen drivers was sent to schools
and PTAs throughout the state.
Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)
During NSAW 2004, Students Against Destructive Decisions ran a four-page story
on teens and sleep in their publication, Decisions. The article provided an overview
of the chronic sleep deprivation experienced by young people and its links to
drowsy driving. The issue encouraged readers to take the NSF Sleep IQ Test and
provided suggestions for activities related to sleep awareness that individual
SADD chapters could undertake.
National Transportation Safety Board
The National Transportation Safety Board issued a press release recognizing National
Sleep Awareness Week® ’04 and raising awareness of its ongoing concern
about fatigue related safety issues. In the release, NTSB Chairman Ellen Engleman-Connors
called on the Department of Transportation and the transportation industry
to address the Board’s remaining outstanding recommendations specifically
related to fatigue and the loss of alertness.
In addition, there were two special partners for NSAW ’04 — the
National Association of Elementary School
Principals and the
American Federation of Teachers. Both groups promoted NSAW
in the printed and online magazines and newsletters sent to
their members.
There are more suggestions for community events to promote healthy sleep
on NSF’s Web site at www.nsaw.org/involved.cfm. Are you planning an NSAW event? Tell us by e-mailing NSF at nsf@sleepfoundation.org,
and put “NSAW Event” in the subject field. |
