Other organizations are encouraged to join

To demonstrate the importance of having a tobacco-free environment within the healthcare community in Brevard, the three Brevard County hospital systems - Health First, Parrish Medical Center and Wuesthoff Health System - have joined together for the purpose of creating and implementing a Tobacco-Free Initiative.

This campaign, that will encompass all hospital facilities and ancillary healthcare locations for the three hospital systems, begins Friday, Feb. 1, 2008, in conjunction with National Heart Health Awareness Month. The tobacco-free policies go into effect at all hospital facilities, both inside the buildings as well as on the outdoor grounds and parking areas, on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008, which is designated as the Great American Smokeout Day.

Other organizations are encouraged to join this tobacco-free initiative.

Additional community partners assisting the hospital systems with this effort include: The American Cancer Society, The American Red Cross, The American Heart Association, Brevard County Health Department and Brevard Health Forum.

Eliminating tobacco use from hospital campuses is becoming the standard in order to provide a healthier environment for everyone - those who visit or receive care or treatment at a hospital facility, as well as those who work in or provide products and services to the facilities. An estimated 25.1 million men and 20.9 million women in the U.S. put themselves at increased risk of heart attack and stroke by smoking cigarettes.

It is becoming increasingly clear that second-hand smoke or involuntary tobacco smoke is detrimental to people's health. Placing smokers in designated smoking areas does not eliminate exposure to second-hand smoke. The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that second-hand smoke cannot be reduced to safe levels, even when ventilated. Designated smoking areas cannot, therefore, confine second-hand smoke within the airspace that all individuals breathe.

The tobacco-free policies and guidelines for this initiative are being created by clinical and non-clinical members from all three hospital systems, assisted by individuals from community partners. The teams are using existing national and local models that have proved successful in other healthcare environments. Once the policies and procedures of the initiative are completed and approved, roll-out campaigns will take place in each hospital system and on the community college campuses

For companies and organizations interested in knowing more about the Tobacco-Free Initiative, contact the Community Engagement Center at (321) 434-4335.