The
Sudbury District Health Unit would like everyone to take part in
the 5th Annual Brown Ribbon Campaign, in conjunction
with National Non-Smoking week which is held during the third week every
January. This year thousands of Canadians will undertake various projects
to promote and support the effort to make Canada smoke-free. The main
focus of this year’s campaign is promoting smoke-free spaces and
workplaces.
Workplaces
are being provided with brown ribbons on information cards. Staffs are
being encouraged to wear these ribbons to support the campaign. Ribbons
will also be available at local pharmacies.
Each
year tobacco kills about 12,000 Ontarians. That is the equivalent of
losing one out of every two people living in Valley East. Only 60% of
people aged 12 and over live in smoke-free homes and second-hand smoke
alone kills more than 4,000 non-smokers in Canada each year.
“This
community awareness campaign sends a strong message to everyone that more
public places and workplaces need to be smoke-free,” stated the Health
Promotion Division of the Sudbury & District Health Unit. “Tobacco
has touched numerous lives through addiction, illness, allergies and even
death. Second-hand smoke is a danger to everyone’s health. Together we
can create a healthier environment for our future generations.”
Other
facts released by the Health Unit included:
1.
Children exposed to second-hand smoke get more colds, ear infections and
allergies. They are at much greater risk of developing bronchitis and
asthma.
2.
In just one hour in a smoky room you breathe in as much
cancer-causing compound as you would get by smoking 35 cigarettes.
3.
More than 55% of non-smokers regularly inhale second-hand smoke in
the workplace or the home.
4.
A non-smoking mother produces more breastmilk for her baby.
5.
Tobacco smoke in a car is three times more poisonous than a smoky
bar at midnight.
Anyone
seeking more information on the Brown Ribbon Campaign is invited to call
522-9200 (Ext. 290).
