Call Out: Secondhand Smoke Survivor

Do you know someone who worked in a smoky establishment for an extended period of time and developed smoking related diseases (lung cancer, COPD, emphysema, heart attack, throat cancer, etc.) but they never smoked themselves?

If so please let me know. Smoke Free Indy is looking to share personal stories of individuals who have been personally impacted by secondhand smoke.

Indy Star Editorial

Here is a great Editorial in today's Indianapolis Star by American Cancer Society staffer Laura Furst. I think she makes an excellent point, how can we be green if there is still secondhand smoke and all its harmful chemicals still indoors?

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081027/OPINION01/810270308/1031

City won't be truly green until it's also smoke-free

Posted: October 27, 2008

In regard to The Star's recent editorial on SustainIndy, an important element of any green initiative was missing. Indianapolis deserves a comprehensive smoke-free ordinance. We need safe, breathable indoor air too.
Exposure to secondhand smoke is the third most preventable cause of death in the nation. The Environmental Protection Agency classifies secondhand smoke as a Class A carcinogen, a class reserved for the most dangerous substances, such as asbestos and radon.
All workers deserve protection from secondhand smoke, including those in offices, factories, bowling alleys and taverns.
Of the top 15 cities, Indianapolis is one of only four that do not have a comprehensive smoke-free workplace ordinance and one of two without smoke-free bars. I ask the City-County Council and Mayor Greg Ballard to make this "world class city" a smoke-free one.

Laura Furst

Indiana Campaign Coordinator, American Cancer Society

NEARLY 100 SMOKE FREE ADVOCATES ATTEND RALLY CALLING SMOKE FREE AIR

Recently the Indiana Campaign for Smokefree Air (ICSA) hosted a rally in Greenfield to call attention to the importance of passing a statewide comprehensive smoke free law in Indiana.



Here is an exert from their press release "Nearly 100 smoke free advocates and concerned citizens joined with members of the Indiana Campaign for Smokefree Air (ICSA) to rally in Greenfield Thursday evening to ask Indiana legislators to adopt a comprehensive statewide smoke free workplace law that protects ALL employees from exposure to secondhand smoke in Hoosier workplaces. The event included a panel session followed by a question-and-answer period with the public. Panelists included: a pulmonologist, a local hospital CEO, a longtime Indiana casino worker, a business owner, a common council president, a youth leader and a tobacco control professional...... In bringing about the forum, smoke free advocates renewed their push for a statewide smoke free air law that protects all Hoosier workers from secondhand smoke exposure. The town hall meeting is the first in a series of grassroots events planned for communities across Indiana."



WIBC also picked up the rally http://www.wibc.com/News/Story.aspx?ID=101212.



To learn more about ICSA visit http://www.worksmokefree.com/.



In the future we hope to host a rally with ICSA to promote comprehensive policies in Indianapolis and within the entire state. We will keep you posted on the time and date of this rally.

Dangers of Smoking Hookah

Did you know that within scientific studies hookah has shown to be MORE harmful than cigarettes?

Did you know that hookah can be addictive? Did you also know that when smoking hookah a person could inhale the same amount as 100 cigarettes?

Did you also know that students at Colorado State University contracted oral herpes after sharing a hookah pipe?

Here is a blog by Schmoffly in which he did an excellent job summarizing the harmful health hazards hookah, take a second to check it out.

"Although it is a very enjoyable and relaxing activity, it can be dangerous to a person’s health, even if just used once...."