Happy World No Tobacco Day!

Eastern Health today joined with health care authorities and community organizations around the world to mark World No Tobacco Day.

Smoking is not permitted in buildings in buildings, parking lots, in vehicles or anywhere on Eastern Health grounds. This includes the use of other tobacco products such as chew or snuff tobacco. The goal of the smoke free policy is to create a tobacco and smoke free environment for employees, patients, clients, residents, visitors and volunteers in keeping with Eastern Health’s vision of Healthy People, Healthy Communities.

Eastern Health’s other programs such as Born Smoke Free and The Story of Smoke Free target women and children’s groups in particular.

Between 20 and 30 per cent of women use tobacco during pregnancy, and of those who quit, approximately 70 per cent resume smoking after the birth of their babies. The goal of the Born Smoke Free initiative is to promote a smoke free environment for newborns and their families. In partnership with the provincial Department of Health and Community Services and Community Health Nurses, Eastern Health provides resource materials to help parents protect newborns, and their family as a whole, from the dangers of second hand smoke.

In addition, the program provides information and support to assist parents who want to quit smoking. This assistance can be provided to families during both pre and post-natal visits.

The Story of Smoke Free was introduced in Kindergarten and Grade One classes throughout the Eastern Health region in 2006. To celebrate World No Tobacco Day, Kindergarten and Grade 1 classroom teachers were invited to register for The Story of Smoke Free program. Teachers receive a storybook, a CD-ROM, tattoos and stickers to promote the smoke free message. A record 61 schools in the eastern region have registered to participate in this program.