News and Events
Local Tobacco Free Partnership Promotes Tobacco Free Workplaces During Annual Great American Smokeout
November 15, 2018
The Gilchrist Tobacco Free Partnership and encouraged local employers to recognize the Great American Smoke Out (GASO) at their workplaces this year. Palms Medical offices in Trenton, Gilchrist County, and Best Drugs all participated in the observance this year. Each employer gave out palm cards with information on the cost of smoking, and how much money tobacco users would save if they kicked the habit. Cessation information was also provided as part of the Great American Smoke Out observance in Gilchrist County.
The Great American Smoke Out is a national day created by the American Cancer Society to encourage people to quit smoking. Tobacco use is the number one cause of premature death in the United States, killing approximately 500,000 people each year. This number includes about 10% of people who are not smokers themselves, but are people who live with smokers and are harmed by inhaling secondhand smoke.
Every year Tobacco Free Florida works with organizations in all 67 Florida counties to promote tobacco cessation during the week of GASO. Smokers who quit receive immediate benefits, and over the long-term can drastically reduce their chance of cancer and heart disease to almost the same levels as if they had never smoked. That is good news for anyone who wants to break the habit and rid themselves of nicotine addiction.
The Tobacco Free Partnership of Gilchrist County would like to applaud local employers for taking the time and effort to educate their employees about ways they can quit tobacco. Studies reveal that this not only improves the health of the employee, but the health of their family members, as well as improves their financial bottom line by pocketing the money that used to go straight to the tobacco companies. In addition, employees who smoke take more breaks during the day, and have more sick days for themselves and their children who may be effected by secondhand smoke through illnesses such as ear infections, bronchitis and asthma.
Congratulations to our local workplaces who have already taken the steps to protect their employee’s health, and the health of their patrons. If you are a manager, or business owner and would like to learn more about the possibility of encouraging a tobacco-free workplace, please contact the Tobacco Free Partnership at 352-463-7006, or info@tfp-gilchrist.org.
