Be Semper Tobacco Free

Each year about 430,000 people die of illnesses related to their smoking, and 53,000 deaths are related to secondhand smoke.
 
Today, Semper Fit Health Promotions followed the national health observance of the Great American Smoke Out by providing information about the effects of smoking and enticing people to stop using tobacco.
 
The GASO is an annual observance geared toward helping people give up tobacco while learning the benefits of living a healthy, tobacco-free lifestyle.

"Great American Smoke Out is the one national day when tobacco users are asked to give up their tobacco for one day, if not for a lifetime," said Patricia Padgett, Nurse Educator of Semper Fit.

GASO ties into Padgett's monthly Tobacco Cessation class, where she increases awareness to smokers aboard Quantico.

During GASO, health promotions representatives set up information booths at Quantico Middle/High School, Naval Health Clinic Quantico, Security and Weapons Training Battalion, and Marine Helicopter Squadron-1.
 
These information booths contained awareness information for those interested in attending Tobacco Cessation classes and pledge cards.
 
The pledge cards were for individuals willing to give up smoking for the entire day, if not more.

In public places, everyone is vulnerable to secondhand smoke, and unfortunately, ventilation does not eliminate the health problems associated with secondhand smoke.
 
Illnesses related to smoking are cancer, emphysema, asthma and bronchitis, heart disease, cataracts, ulcers, and fertility problems.
 
According to the Secretary of the Navy Instruction 5100.13C, Department of the Navy policy is to provide tobacco users with encouragement and professional assistance to stop. The DON approach is designed to improve the overall state of health and the ability to maintain a high state of military readiness.

The instruction also indicates tobacco use harms readiness by impairing physical fitness and increasing illness, absenteeism, premature death and health care costs.
 
Quitting takes work, but the professional Health Promotion staff can help anyone with a desire to quit.
 
No matter how much or how long someone has smoked, it's never too late to quit.