GRH recently celebrated National Non-Smoking Week (NNSW) which ran from January 15th to the 21st. NNSW is one of the longest running public health education efforts in Canada.
As a tobacco-free hospital, GRH is proud to provide support and resources for patients and visitors interested in becoming smoke-free. Smoking is prohibited on all hospital property. Some ways that we help smokers become smoke-free include:
- All patients admitted to the hospital are offered support and smoking cessation aids during their stay. One of the best times to quit smoking is when you are in the hospital.
- The Health Care Centre Pharmacy located in the main lobby of the hospital offers smoking cessation aids.
- The Grand River Regional Cancer Centre has a dedicated tobacco cessation nurse to help cancer patients quit smoking.
GRH supported this campaign by profiling two patients who are now smoke-free as well as highlighting the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre’s tobacco cessation nurse. In addition we also posted many facts on our Facebook and Twitter pages, such as:
- More than 37,000 people will die this year in Canada due to smoking. This is 6 times more than vehicle collisions, suicides, murders and AIDS combined.
- Smoking is the #1 preventable cause of death in Canada.
- The average smoker has 7 quit attempts before they are finally successful.
- 70% of smokers want to quit, without help only 5-10% will succeed. Talk to your health care provider to learn how to increase your chances.
- The risk of going blind in old age is 4 times higher for a smoker than a non-smoker.
To learn more about quitting smoking and for information and resources, please visit www.smokershelpline.ca.