Smoke Free At Last

At last - a North Carolina public facility takes charge and goes smoke free!

After years of public debate and tolerance of smoke clouding the entrances of most public places, NC hospitals have taken a step to be a leader in community health and has banned "use of tobacco products anywhere on hospital property for employees, patients and visitors".

Granted this may be difficult to enforce but it is a major step to help all of us have clean air to breath and avoid constant exposure to second hand smoke when we go in public places.

Now if only state Legislators would be responsible and have the courage to take the same step for all state facilities instead of giving in to pressure from tobacco lobbyists and big business, the trend could move forward to help everyone have clean air to breath.

July 4, 2007
NBC-17 - Health and Fitness

Area hospitals go smoke free

RALEIGH, N.C. -- This July Fourth, Duke University Health System, UNC Healthcare and WakeMed Health and Hospitals are celebrating their independence from tobacco.

In Raleigh, WakeMed is clearing the air by declaring a 100 percent tobacco-free campus.

While hospitals have banned the use of tobacco products inside their buildings for years, this new policy prohibits the use of tobacco products anywhere on hospital property for employees, patients and visitors.

"Hundreds of people die per year as a result of tobacco use and the effects that it's had on their health, and so for us, with leaders in health, we just felt it very important that we take a step forward and make our campuses all tobacco-free," WakeMed RN Barbara Bisset said.

WakeMed officials said they'll approach violators courteously and will offer them sugar-free chewing gum instead.

The hospitals have also asked for help from employees to help enforce the new policy.