|
|
A Tobacco-Free Campus
St. Claire Regional became a tobacco-free effective November 20, 2008 in conjunction with the next "Great American Smoke Out Day." On that day SCR joined many other healthcare facilities in Kentucky's Tobacco-Free Health Care Collaborative in becoming a completely tobacco-free campus. The new policy adopted by SCR will include the exterior areas of all SCR buildings, vehicles, grounds and parking lots. SCR has maintained a smoke-free interior since 1991.
SCR is committed to the promotion of health, which includes prevention as well as treatment of diseases, and is taking a leadership role in addressing the negative effects of Kentucky's most preventable health problem. Kentucky has the highest smoking rate in the United States at 29 percent, compared with the national average of 21 percent. The state's incidence and death rates for cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and other cancer-related diseases far exceed the national average. According to the US Surgeon General, more than 430,000 Americans - including 8,000 Kentuckians - die each year as a result of tobacco use, and secondhand smoke kills more than 50,000 nonsmokers each year.
"SCR is not requiring that anyone give up smoking because that is a personal decision," stated Mark J. Neff, SCR President/CEO. "We are simply requesting that individuals not smoke or use tobacco products on SCR property."
Neff says SCR is very committed to offering positive and helpful intervention strategies and treatment resources in addressing this issue for staff, patients and community members. SCR offers smoking cessation courses and other educational resources focusing on the positive effects of quitting the use of tobacco products. For more information about Tobacco-Cessation Resources at St. Claire Regional call 606.783-6506.
|
|
|
