Take Part in the “Great American Smokeout” on Nov. 21
Wallace State Respiratory Therapy and Huntsville Hospital Team up with the American Cancer Society for smoking cessation and lung health events
HANCEVILLE, Ala.–Quitting smoking is actually one of the most difficult things that many will ever do, and even the most motivated smokers may attempt to quit several times before they are finally successful.Wallace State Community College Respiratory Therapy Program, Huntsville Hospital Respiratory Care Services along with the American Cancer Society have announced Thursday, November 21, 2013 as the date for the “Great American Smokeout.”
“The goal on the Smokeout Day is to get smokers to quit for one whole day, or at least try to cut down their smoking substantially in the hopes that they may decide to quit for a lifetime,” says Dr. Paul D. Taylor program director of Wallace States Respiratory Therapy program.
On Thursday November 21st, the day of the Great American Smokeout, Wallace State’s Respiratory Therapy students from all over the state will participate in this event as part of their desire for service learning. Students and faculty will be on hand in the main buildings on the Wallace State campus and the lobby areas of Huntsville Hospital to disseminate information on how to quit or how to help someone quit smoking. This event will also be used to screen individuals for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), an ongoing initiative co-sponsored by the American Association of Respiratory Care and the Respiratory Therapy Program at Wallace State Community College.
According to the American Cancer Society tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States, yet about 43.8 million Americans still smoke cigarettes – nearly 1 in every 5 adults. Four decades after the 1964 U.S. Surgeon General Report on the health consequences of smoking, smoking still remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease. Each year, approximately 440,000 Americans die of smoking-related illnesses and an estimated 50,000 non-smokers die of illnesses related to secondhand smoke.
For more information about the Wallace State Respiratory Therapy’s “Great American Smokeout” activities, please call 256-352-8310 or email paul.taylor@wallacestate.edu.