Two healthcare providers in Chattanooga are taking the initiative to expand their tobacco-free workplace policies to include entire campuses and satellite facilities in an effort to provide their clients and staff a safe and healthy environment and to encourage other healthcare facilities to join their efforts.

Blood Assurance and the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department jointly announce that their campuses will be tobacco-free starting Feb. 1.

“Research shows that there’s no risk-free exposure to second hand smoke; however, over 225,000 nonsmoking residents in Hamilton County continue to be exposed in their workplaces and public places," said Becky Barnes, Administrator for the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department. "Taking action to create a tobacco-free campus will reduce tobacco use and secondhand smoke, and ultimately can save lives."

Approximately 20% of Hamilton County adults are current smokers, and another 6% occasionally smoke. An even larger percentage of adolescents in Hamilton County (27%) are current smokers. Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States.

Both Blood Assurance and the Health Department had existing tobacco-free workplace policies; however, both organizations decided to serve as healthcare models by expanding these policies to include an entire campus. As of Feb. 1, all campus buildings, grounds, entrance walkways and parking lots on Blood Assurance and Health Department campuses will be tobacco-free. These policies for both organizations apply to employees, visitors, and contractors.

“I used to be an incessant smoker, smoking sometimes four packs a day and leaving a smoking mess behind me,” Leonard Fant, Blood Assurance chief executive officer and president said. “Many years ago I quit smoking cold turkey, and I am rather sure that I would not be quoted today unless I had quit many years ago. We are trying to help you quit, please do.”

Blood Assurance is a non-profit, full-service regional blood center serving over 30 health care facilities in 31 counties in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina. Blood Assurance has served the people of these areas with the mission of providing a safe and adequate supply of blood and blood components to everyone in need. Blood Assurance’s tobacco-free initiative also applies not only to employees, but also to visitors at any of its 11 centers and seven bloodmobiles.

“As the health department, we cannot convince others of the need to quit tobacco without becoming a model ourselves. It’s just the right thing to do,” said Jay Collum, coordinator of tobacco education and control at Health Department. “And research shows that smokers are most successful in quitting when they have support. Sometimes, a workplace policy change can help smokers realize the need to take a serious look at this behavior. Seven out of ten smokers wish they didn’t smoke or have tried to stop. We support those who wish to quit wholeheartedly.”

The Health Department campus includes the Third Street facility and Harriet Tubman Express facility as well as four clinics in Sequoyah, Birchwood, 11th Street, and Ooltewah. The tobacco education and control program at the Health Department works to prevent tobacco use among youth, promote quitting among adults, decrease secondhand smoke exposure, and facilitate policy change.

Smokers can attend Smoking Cessation Classes for positive group support in their decision to quit. For more information about these classes in the community, call the Tobacco Education Program at the Health Department at 209-8008. This number also serves as a local Tobacco QuitLine for quitting support.

Residents in Tennessee also have the option of calling the statewide QuitLine. The Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine (1-800-QUIT-NOW or 1-800-784-8669) is a statewide toll-free telephone tobacco cessation treatment program made possible through the Tennessee Department of Health. There is no charge to callers, and callers will receive Quit Kits and have access to trained coaches.