Tobacco Prevention
Smoke-Free Ottawa |
No Cigs for Our Kids |
Smoke-Free Indoor Air Regulation |
Free Resources to Quit Smoking
Smoke-Free Ottawa
Smoke-Free Ottawa is dedicated to creating a healthier community through tobacco-free living and works in partnership with the Ottawa County Wellness Coalition to address tobacco issues as they relate to healthy living and reducing chronic disease in Ottawa County. Efforts include:
- 2009 Smoke-Free Ottawa Video Competition: Local Schools
were offered the chance to participate in a video competition creating
public service announcements with the theme "Smoke Free Hero." Over
40 videos were submitted and the top three were awarded with $1000 for
their school media department and mall gift cards for the students. Check
out the videos...
Smoke Free Hero '09
By Kellie Rutka, Morgan Durfee & Aubreanne Meintsma
Coopersville
Try Not Smoking
By Adam Vroon & Ariel Zapata
Career Line Tech Center
Barbie Stop-Motion
By Mariah Bowles, Megan Spain, Jake Bitner & Nate Leeball
Grand Haven Central High School - Ottawa County smoke-free indoor air regulation: Smoke- Free
Ottawa was involved in the passing of a smoke-free air regulation which
prohibits
smoking inside all worksites and public buildings and within a 25 foot distance
from doorways. This means regulation passed with a 7-3 vote at the
Ottawa County Board of Commissioners on August 28, 2007 making Ottawa
County the
19th county in Michigan to offer protection from secondhand smoke.
The regulation goes into effect January 1, 2008.
- Smoke-Free bars and restaurants: Since state law prohibits
local governments from regulating smoke-free policies in food service
establishments, Smoke-Free
Ottawa is actively involved in a voluntary campaign to increase
smoke-free restaurants and bars and to advocate with the State to pass
a statewide
smoke-free indoor air law. This effort began in 2007 and has been
instrumental in placing Ottawa County 2nd in the state for number of
smoke-free restaurants
and the City of Holland as 2nd in the state for cities. Area smoke-free
restaurants are eligible to participate in a FREE Smoke-Free Dining
Coupon Booklet. A new edition of the coupon booklet will be offered
in 2008. Restaurants
and bars who wish to go smoke-free receive free consultation services,
media promotion and promotional items to distribute to customers
on their first smoke-free day. Currently, Ottawa County has over 275
places where
you both eat well and breathe easy.
-
Smoking cessation resources: Smoke-Free Ottawa
also maintains a current listing of available smoking cessation resources.
Visit our
website or
call 393-5793 for more information.
- Tobacco prevention and youth: Smoke-Free Ottawa will be featuring a new campaign to prevent youth smoking, motivate youth smokers to quit, encourage school districts in Ottawa to offer 24/7 smoke-free campuses and combat the influence on our kids of smoking in movies.
If you are interested in becoming a member of Smoke-Free Ottawa or would like more information please contact Marcia Knol at 616-393-5793 or visit the website at www.smokefreeottawa.org.
No-Cigs for our Kids
The No Cigs for Our Kids Campaign is a multi-county
campaign partnership with Allegan, Berrien, Muskegon and Ottawa Counties
to reduce youth
access to tobacco at area retailers. Components of then campaign
include regular law enforcement tobacco compliance checks along
with vendor education to retailers who want to avoid selling tobacco
products
to minors.
Smoke-Free Indoor Air Regulation
Breathe easy. Now that Ottawa County has adopted a smoke-free worksite regulation, you might be wondering, "What now?" The Ottawa County Health Department wants your process of going smoke-free to be painless for you, your employees, and your customers. Here you will find all the information about the regulation, and tools to ease your transition. By January 1, 2008 you and all of your employees will be breathing much easier.
The regulation requires that businesses post signage indicating that your building is smoke-free. Free decals and window clings are available at the Health Department offices or order them online from the Michigan Department of Community Health by following the link. Thank you for helping to create a healthier Ottawa County. For further information, call the Smoke-Free Regulation Coordinator at the Ottawa County Heath Department at 616.393.5793.
Free Resources to Quit Smoking
The Michigan Tobacco Quitline is now offering free nicotine replacement products for people who want to quit smoking or chewing tobacco. People who want to take advantage of the program can call the quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669), which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The program will provide up to an eight-week supply of nicotine patches, gum or lozenges to tobacco users who are age 18 years old and over and meet basic health requirements. The free program is available to all callers regardless of income or insurance status. The nicotine patches, gum and lozenges are available now through April 30, 2009 or while supplies last. The products are provided on a first come, first served basis. The Quitline offers both English and Spanish-speaking counselors, as well as interpretive services for a wide variety of languages.
To be eligible, callers must enroll in cessation services with the Michigan Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-QUIT NOW. When Michigan residents enroll with the Quitline, they will receive a personal coach who will assist them in setting a quit date and making an individualized quit plan. The personal coach also will provide on-going support with up to five telephone coaching sessions around the caller's quit date.