December 15, 2005
The Great American Smoke out was celebrated across the Delta on November 17
This event was started by the American Cancer Society 29 years ago. Because the single best thing that Alaskans who use tobacco can do to improve their health is to quit smoking or chewing tobacco products for one day.
YKHC Nicotine Control in support of the GASO gave away 2 smoked turkeys donated by the A.C. store. Clifford Hunter and Brian Lefferts were the lucky winners!
Flora Demantle, counselor for YKHC also flew out to the Emmonak Subregional clinic on November 14 and 15 to bring strategies for the implementation of Clean Indoor Air to the community. She also held a cessation clinic, educated the community on the dangers of tobacco use, handed out information on secondhand smoke, educated K-3rd graders at the school and celebrated the Great American Smoke/Chew Out. She also handed out tobacco materials and incentives to the community and hopes to come back with people interested in entering our program.
Did you know:
- Quitting smoking could help you avoid complications when undergoing surgery?
- Every day that you are quit, your immune system improves?
- Lung functions improves within a few months of quitting smoking?
- Excess risk of heart disease caused by smoking could be cut in half after just one year of quitting smoking?
- Quitting smoking could eliminate your need for cholesterol-lowering medication and result in significant cost savings?
- The increased risk of developing prostate cancer as a smoker disappears over time once you quit?
- Expectant mothers who quit tobacco reduce their baby's chances of having attention, motor control, and perception problems?
- Increase your option for the safe use of contraceptives.
- Helps you avoid cervical abnormalities.
- Quitting smoking can be a protective factor for erectile dysfunction?
- Smokeless tobacco, called chew, iqmik, snuff, or dip, is not a safe replacement for cigarettes and causes cancer of the mouth and neck. (while 77 percent of teenagers nationally recognize the danger of cigarettes, only 40 percent know chewing tobacco is harmful).
If you have any questions or are interested in stopping tobacco use, please call us at YKHC Nicotine Control & Research Program at 1-800-478-3321 or 543 -6312.