NEW YORK, May 30 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), observed annually on May 31 worldwide, fire departments across the country have joined together to encourage fire fighters and all tobacco users to quit tobacco use for the da

In observance of the WNTD, firefighters nation-wide are encouraged to give up tobacco products for the day.(The Coalition for WNTB's Official Logo)As part of their efforts, fire fighters from New York, San Francisco, Indianapolis and Miami participated in a national public service announcement (PSA) campaign, sponsored by the Coalition for World No Tobacco Day, which has been airing on television stations throughout the month of May. Additionally, many of the departments have been hosting Coalition-sponsored programs, called "Go Tobacco-Free with Your FD," during which they have prohibited the use of all tobacco products in their firehouses and offered resources to help fire fighters, as well as community members, quit tobacco use. "Protecting the community and looking out for the safety of their colleagues are both part of fire fighters' jobs," said Dr. David Prezant, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, City of New York Fire Department. "To do this terribly important job, it is critical that fire fighters remain healthy and in top physical condition. To achieve this goal, they must make every effort to become and remain tobacco-free. The activities taking place for World No Tobacco Day address all of these issues, which is why we have been so excited to take part in them." The PSA campaign, "The Strength of Support," stresses the importance of relying on the support of friends and family when trying to quit tobacco. The campaign also encourages tobacco users to quit, and those who are already tobacco-free to stay that way and help others stop. The Coalition for World No Tobacco Day and major fire service organizations, including the International Association of Fire Fighters and the International Association of Fire Chiefs, are proud to be a part of this ambitious effort. "On the job, fire fighters rely on each other as a support system," said Dr. Paul Cinciripini, director of the Tobacco Research and Treatment Program, University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. "We want to encourage them, and others, to use a similar approach when quitting tobacco, because 'quitting together,' or with support from friends and family, can greatly increase one's chances of quitting successfully." During the "Go Tobacco-Free with Your FD" local events, the Coalition for World No Tobacco Day provided fire departments with free counseling and information about planning a quit attempt. Experts were on-site to explain how fire fighters' unique work environment and lifestyle impacts their ability to quit tobacco, and offered tips to increase their chances of quitting for good. Additionally, those fire fighters who decided to quit smoking received free nicotine gum kits or nicotine patch kits. In effort to involve the community, fire departments also invited area residents interested in quitting tobacco to attend these events for free educational materials and tips about quitting. About World No Tobacco Day Created by the World Health Organization in 1988, WNTD is the first and only global event established to call attention to the global impact that the use of cigarettes, cigars, spit tobacco and dip has on health and environment. Countries throughout the world participate in WNTD to prevent tobacco use and to help tobacco users quit for at least a day, if not forever. The Pan American Health Organization, a recognized arm of the United Nations and the regional office of the Americas for the World Health Organization, has supported educational efforts through WNTD. About the Coalition for World No Tobacco Day The Coalition for World No Tobacco Day is a non-profit organization comprised of thought leaders and more than 30 esteemed non-profit and for-profit organizations, including Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the American Cancer Society, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, GlaxoSmithKline, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association and the Pan American Health Organization, all of whom are united to end tobacco use and combat the enormous losses suffered as a result of tobacco-related death and disease. The mission of the Coalition for World No Tobacco Day is to raise awareness of World No Tobacco Day by calling attention to the human and economic tolls of the global tobacco epidemic and improve public health by encouraging people not to use tobacco and motivating users to quit. Consumers and organizations seeking more information about the Coalition and World No Tobacco Day can log on to the Coalition Web site (http://www.worldnotobaccoday.com or http://www.wntd.com.) About GlaxoSmithKline GlaxoSmithKline -- one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies -- is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.

<< Prev	CIGoutlet.NET News Home	Next >>