Over the next three months, Western Health will be providing additional information on the new policy, including information on our website, signs and brochures in an effort to prepare both employees and the public for the Smoke Free initiative.
As the Regional Health Authority, this is an opportunity to set an example for our communities to be smoke free. “On July 1st we will be smoke free to the property line, we hope this will provide an incentive for employees and clients who smoke to actually quit”, said Dr. Minnie Wasmeier, Chief Operating Officer for Secondary Services and Member of the Smoke Free Properties Working Group.
“Western Health staff treat the people who are affected by tobacco use and the illnesses that it causes so it is appropriate that the organization enact policies to eliminate this health threat from its properties”, said Tanya Barnes Matthews, Regional Health Educator and Chair of the Tobacco Free Network. “Tobacco is a serious health threat to public health and safety and anything we can do to stress that is a step in the right direction”.
People looking for more information on quitting smoking can call the Smoker’s Helpline at 1-800-363-5864.
-30-
For more information contact:
Heidi Staeben-Simmons
Director of Communications, 709-637-5252