In recognition of the impact Butts Day March 21 Chippewa County Health Department, the Su-Tribe Community Gant conversion project, and the Su-Tribe Community Health program, the partners Chippewa County Tobacco-Free Living Coalition united to highlight tobacco-free parks policy in Chippewa County and Su-Tribe seven county service area.
Tobacco litter is poisonous to children and animals, and discarded cigarette butts are the most common form of litter. Studies show that cigarette butts are toxic, slowly decompose, and costly to remove. Cigarette butts were found in the stomachs of fish, whales, birds and other marine animals and can cause digestive blockages. Children usually pick them up and try to put in your mouth. In addition, cigarette butts, who do not represent fully, extinguished the fire and burn risk.
“Without tobacco policy for outdoor recreation are very important to protect and promote health and the environment, and growing support for these policies in our society,” said Julie Trotter, chairman of the person life without tobacco coalition. “Passive smoking causes heart disease, respiratory tract, ear infections, and worsens asthma. Children, the elderly, persons with special needs, health, and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to health risks caused by passive smoking, even outdoors. Activities for children should mean to play among the cigarette butts or being exposed to secondhand smoke. In addition, tobacco use in outdoor recreation is not the behavior we want to model for children in our society. Studies show that tobacco-free policies can help prevent or reduce youth tobacco use “she concluded.
Steady progress has been made with this initiative at the local level in recent years.
City of Sault Ste. Maria was adopted tobacco-free recreational resolution, which covers more than a dozen recreational areas in the city of Sault Ste. Mary, from August 2010. Su-Seal Recreation Area, Project Playground, Malcolm Park Pond Fishing Kids, Sherman Park beach and playground, and several other areas of the site have been designated as tobacco-free. The resolution also requires the Pullar Stadium and ice rink at the Kane to be free of tobacco.
Su-Tribe Housing Authority adopted a tobacco-free policy for children’s playgrounds in the city of Su-Tribe housing sites from April 2011.
Kinross Charter Township adopted a tobacco-free resolution for the baseball fields, playground, fitness trail around the center and Kinross Leisure, October 2011. Partners in the Delta County worked with the city of Escanaba, as a result of smoke, outdoor air Decree from July 2011. Regulation requires outdoor areas within 100 feet of city buildings, nine playgrounds, ball fields, six, guarded beach, pool, and Webster, two ice rink that smoking.
For these reasons, the WAC and the Su-Tribe Community Health Partners to continue to highlight this important health initiative. Donna Norkoli, Su-Tribe community transformation grant project coordinator, said: “Our first step is to increase tobacco-free, outdoor recreation areas will inspect local government settlement of their interest in the creation of village parks tobacco-free. Su-Tribe will partner with local tobacco prevention coalitions and other community members in this initiative. ”
“We are ready to provide information and assistance to decision makers, and community members at the local level,” said Trotter and Norkoli.
