Hanover Plays Role in Passage of State-Wide Tobacco Awareness Legislation

May 5, 2009 -
For the first time, legislation that started in Hanover was recently passed by unanimous vote by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Passage of House Resolution 172 made March 25, 2009 “Kick Butts Day” in all of Pennsylvania.  To help make it happen, Hanover Hospital Tobacco Cessation Coordinator Adam Bennett, as part of the York County Tobacco Free Coalition, took a lead in gathering community support from area schools, businesses, healthcare organizations and local legislators.  The effort was made to highlight the importance of visible, unified tobacco cessation and prevention education by community members be launched to encourage tobacco users to be tobacco-free.

At Hanover Hospital, we’re reaching out to individuals as well as businesses and youth organizations with stop-smoking and prevention programs.  The “Freedom From Smoking” tobacco cessation program boasts a quit rate of 71%, exceeding the national average of 60%.

In an effort to raise awareness of the dangers of secondhand smoke in the home, the Smoke-Free Community Challenge was launched.  Participating municipalities will be collecting smoke-free home pledges for the Challenge through May 15.  Citizens who pledge their homes and cars to be smoke-free take an effective step to significantly reduce the risks of secondhand smoke, and give their children a safe, healthy home.  Secondhand smoke is a known carcinogen and contributes to many conditions from ear infections to asthma.

According to Bennett, we are also working in partnership with area businesses to help them achieve success with adapting to and benefiting from the recent Clean Indoor Air Act.  Statistics show that in most cases establishments are busier now than when they allowed smoking.

For more information, contact Adam Bennett at (717) 633-8894, or bennetta@hanoverhospital.org.