Timing coincides with the Great American Smoke Out
White Plains, NY (November 18, 2010) – White Plains Hospital today celebrated its new beginning as a smoke and tobacco free campus at a press conference attended by Hospital staff, administrators, local politicians, and representatives from the American Cancer Society, American Lung Association in New York and American Heart Association. The Hospital commended employees who have quit smoking “cold turkey” over the last few months by gifting them with a frozen turkey just in time for Thanksgiving.
Over the last several months, White Plains Hospital has encouraged employees, patients and visitors to quit smoking with a series of smoking cessation programs as part of its Healthy Living for Life lecture series. In addition, the Hospital placed informational signage around the campus to increase awareness of the smoke-free initiative and encourage employees to take the opportunity to quit.
“We believe in wellness as a way of life here at White Plains Hospital,” said Jon B. Schandler, President and CEO. “This is a natural extension of our Wellness through Prevention initiative, which was started more than three years ago and culminates yearly during Wellness Month in May. We are pleased that our staff and neighbors have taken the challenge to quit smoking and continue the path to a healthy life.”
As a symbol of the Hospital’s new smoke and tobacco free policy, all of the ashtrays and “butt huts” were removed after the press conference. New signage that states that the Hospital is “Proud to be Smoke and Tobacco Free” was displayed around the campus. The Hospital also handed out apples as a symbol of good health during the launch of the smoke-free campus. Today’s date, November 18, was chosen as the official date to become smoke and tobacco free because it coincides with the 35th Annual Great American Smokeout sponsored by the American Cancer Society.
“I congratulate White Plains Hospital on going smoke and tobacco free,” said Susan Petre, Regional Vice President, The American Cancer Society. “We are pleased to celebrate the 35th Annual Great American Smokeout at a fine institution such as this one that believes in overall health and wellness.”
“White Plains Hospital has done a tremendous job of encouraging and helping its staff and extended family to quit smoking,” said Scott Santarella, President & CEO of the American Lung Association in New York. “We are pleased to be a part of this important initiative and will continue to help patients quit smoking with our POW’R Cessation Center services and through our Freedom From Smoking® program.”
Forty-six years ago, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a landmark report linking cigarette smoking and use to coronary heart disease, emphysema and throat cancer. Since that time, other reports have shown cigarette smoking to cause other serious diseases such as leukemia, pneumonia and cancers of the cervix, kidneys, pancreas and stomach. In spite of this, about 46 million Americans still smoke. Smoking is linked to the top five causes of death (heart disease, cancer, COPD, stroke and accidental death) and kills approximately 440,000 people each year in the United States. In addition, smoking related illnesses costs exceed $96 billion in medical expenses and $97 billion in lost productivity each year.
For information about smoking cessation, please call (914) 681-1119.