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Friday, June 20, 2008—FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kate LaMonica at 484-444-0412 or press@holcombprevention.org

“No Smoking” Signs Available to Delaware County Community Organizations 

MEDIA, PA — “No Smoking. Children playing.” signs are available to Delaware County community organizations with outdoor public spaces, such as parks, playgrounds, etc. Free 3’ x 4’ signs are available through Delaware County Tobacco-Free Coalition and Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems. The signs are designed to discourage smoking and protect children from secondhand smoke exposure.

According to a 1997 study, exposure to secondhand smoke leads to over 500,000 physician visits for asthma and 1.3 million visits for coughs, and to more than 115,000 episodes of pneumonia, 14,000 tonsillectomies or adenoidectomies, 260,000 episodes of bronchitis, two million cases of otis media among children (an acute or chronic inflammation of the middle ear), and 5,200 tympanostomies (middle ear operations).1

Smaller, 18” x 12” Delaware County Tobacco-Free Coalition ‘No Smoking’ signage that is designed for window display use by businesses, daycare centers, schools, etc. is also available free of charge. To request either sign or more information, please call Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems (Media office) at 484-444-0412. To learn more about quitting smoking and free group classes, please visit the Delaware County Tobacco-Free Coalition website at www.tobaccofreedelco.com .

Additional services provided by Holcomb Prevention and Education Services as part of a planned strategy to prevent or reduce the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs include education, trainings, consultations, public awareness campaigns, theater performances, prevention initiatives, student assessments, and referrals.

1 DiFranza, J.R. & R.A. Lew, "Morbidity & Mortality in Children Associated with the Use of Tobacco Products By Other People," Pediatrics 97(4): 560-68 (April 1997).

Below is a picture of the Delaware County Tobacco-Free Coalition with one of the new signs.


Click to enlarge

*Standing, Left to Right: Deb Mantegna, Jessica Scott, Sarah Tegtmeyer, Ruth Mullen, David Mullen, and Aria Burgess.

*Sitting, Left to Right: (middle row) Katee Yorke, Aqueel Dix, and Kara Chivalette.

*Sitting Left to Right: (front row) Bonnie Breit (Coalition Chair) and Maura Haslam.

 

 

This project is supported by the Health Promotion Council (HPC) and funded through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Edward G. Rendell, Governor.