Crowded emergency rooms became a debated topic at a Freedom Communications conference on Tuesday.

I am attending the weeklong content meeting with other Freedom associates in San Antonio, Texas, and this topic was personal because of a recent experience.

One person talked about how six emergency rooms have closed in a California community, greatly influencing other similar facilities.

With the closing of emergency rooms, the ones left are becoming more and more clogged, those in attendance at the meeting said.

My daughter, Sierra, recently had an allergic reaction, so I had a personal emergency room situation to talk about.

Emergency room officials rushed us in quickly and she received proper attention. Without that kind of attention, she could have been in dire shape.

In our situation, we didn’t have an hour or two we could wait in the E.R. facility; we had literally a few minutes or seconds. I can’t begin to express my appreciation for the work of ambulance personnel who were first on the scene to help during my daughter’s allergic reaction. An experience like this one sure brings back home their importance.

Emergency rooms are called that for a reason – they are designed for “emergency” situations. When people typically go to an emergency room, they have just a few minutes left for help. Some at the conference talked about how immigrants and some illegal immigrants are using E.R. facilities as medical clinics. I didn’t find that the case in Alton, but I do know it exists outside the area.

I think emergency rooms are important. I realize it even more after my recent experience.

What do you think needs to be done to make E.R. facilities more functional here and nationwide? Do you realize the importance of the emergency rooms? Do you think some use E.R. facilities for what they should be using regular medical clinics?

I received a letter from Linda Smith, a member of the board of directors of the American Lung Association, this week.

Smith, who is an R.N. from Edwardsville, pointed out that life expectancy of American women is dropping, due in part to increased smoking rates.

Cancer is becoming the leading cancer killer among women and more women are dying from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD). Many with COPD also suffer from emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Smith wrote me and said:

“Currently, we are without federal legislation to regulate manufactured tobacco products, including how the tobacco companies market their deadly products. This year, the U.S. Congress has an opportunity to stop the tobacco industry’s harmful practices and protect our children. Congress is considering bipartisan legislation that would give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory authority over the tobacco industry.”

Smith went on to say that the support of U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, D-Collinsville, is needed in the bipartisan legislation to regulate the tobacco industry.

Another point by Smith that is staggering is that more than 1,100 minors begin smoking every day in this country. Most of those lives will be shortened as they age and suffer from cardiovascular diseases and COPD.

I am not a big proponent of government regulations of this and that, but we should consider some of what Smith is saying in regard making sure children are protected.

We need to educate our children of the perils of smoking. I have spoken with my two young children numerous times about what happens when a person smokes. If we talk enough about it, maybe when the peer pressure comes, they will think before they puff.

I also encourage women and men alike to consider tossing away their cigarettes. By doing so, it will make a huge difference in your life.

I’d like your thoughts on the legislation proposed over the tobacco industry and perspectives on smoking. If you smoke, why do you? Do you worry about the health risks?

During the recent Lincoln activities in town, 120 guests visited My Just Desserts in Alton for a Saturday program on Mary Todd Lincoln, celebrating the woman.

Ann Badasch, owner of My Just Desserts, hosted Donna McCreary, an author and historian from Southern Indiana, who has written three books on Mary Lincoln at the event. McCreary gave an interesting presentation about the former wife of President Abraham Lincoln.

For about nine months, Badasch prepared recipes and worked on the project. She was fortunate enough to have people drive from Chester, Springfield and St. Louis to hear McCreary speak and eat the period recipes.

The cookbook included recipes during the Lincoln era and some from the Victorian Era.

“We served spring mix salad with pickled beets and onions, salad, fresh oranges, pineapple and coconut, potatoes, maple syrup glazed carrots, filet of beef, chicken, homemade breads, maple syrup glazed carrots and two desserts, both Mary Lincoln recipes,” Badasch said. “I got such a kick out of seeing all the Lincolns around town that day. Traffic was stopped to watch them. It was a wonderful event for the city. This is something I really enjoy doing.”

I wanted to personally commend Badasch for this effort. I know it took a lot of research and effort on the part of her and her staff to put such an event together.

I also think Brett Stawar, of the Alton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau and others who volunteered and coordinated the Lincoln events deserve a lot of credit.

I took my two children to the event and I think it will be something they will always remember. I will always keep my pictures of my two kids with the different Lincoln impersonators in Lincoln Douglas Square in Alton.

If you have a memory from the event, please e-mail my blog.