Health News
- Kentucky Hospital Association Backs State Smoking Ban
The Kentucky Hospital Association on Thursday reiterated its support of smoke-free workplaces and public places throughout the state in hopes that 2015 will be the year that legislators pass a statewide ban on smoking in enclosed spaces. ?Kentucky hospitals...
- Study Shows Tailored Advocacy For Local Smoking Bans In Rural Kentucky Gets Results
Local smoking bans are only possible if the community is ready for this change, Ellen Hahn, director of the Kentucky Center for Smoke-free Policy, writes in a report of a five-year study she conducted in rural Kentucky. Readiness for change can be developed...
- Uk Cancer-center Director Urges Lawmakers To Raise Cigarette Tax And Pass A Statewide Smoking Ban To Reduce Cancer Deaths
The Markey Cancer Center at the University of Kentucky supports a statewide smoking ban and an increase in the state cigarette tax to significantly reduce cancer deaths in the state, the center's director told a legislative committee Sept. 3....
- Northern Kentucky Health Board Supports Statewide Smoking Ban
The main health board in Northern Kentucky, where local smoking bans have stirred much controversy. has endorsed the idea of a statewide ban on smoking in all places of employment. "The 32-member board, which represents Boone, Campbell, Grant and Kenton...
- Videos Aim To Educate Policymakers About Smoke-free Laws
With a statewide smoking ban proposed in the legislature, which reconvenes next week, and local ordinances still being proposed and passed, the Kentucky Center for Smoke-Free Policy has produced eight video vignettes to help educate policy makers...
Health News
State health commissioner encourages smoke-free ordinances
Kentucky's public health commissioner said communities are moving in the right direction by enacting smoke-free ordinances and hopes Kentucky can become a smoke-free state. "We have communities in Letcher County, as well as areas in far Eastern Kentucky, Western Kentucky and Northern Kentucky implementing second-hand smoke ordinances because it's dangerous for people who are non-smokers," Dr. William Hacker said.
Hacker, who spoke at the Breathing Clean Air Summit in Owensboro Thursday, said 25 percent of Kentuckians smoke, the highest percentage in the country, reports Jasmin Embers of WFIE-TV in Evansville. "We're ranked number one in lung cancer deaths, so if you're number one in smoking, you can expect to be number one in lung cancer deaths," Hacker said.
Hacker encouraged communities that already have smoke-free efforts or laws to go farther. Change can be seen at Owensboro Medical Health System, which now has four smoking huts on its campus. Those will be eliminated by the end of the year, a move that was decided after employees responded to a smoking survey. "Half of the respondents said they felt that smoking on OMHS grounds contradicted our mission statement to heal the sick and improve health of our community," wellness committee member Gordon Wilkeron said. (Read more)
- Kentucky Hospital Association Backs State Smoking Ban
The Kentucky Hospital Association on Thursday reiterated its support of smoke-free workplaces and public places throughout the state in hopes that 2015 will be the year that legislators pass a statewide ban on smoking in enclosed spaces. ?Kentucky hospitals...
- Study Shows Tailored Advocacy For Local Smoking Bans In Rural Kentucky Gets Results
Local smoking bans are only possible if the community is ready for this change, Ellen Hahn, director of the Kentucky Center for Smoke-free Policy, writes in a report of a five-year study she conducted in rural Kentucky. Readiness for change can be developed...
- Uk Cancer-center Director Urges Lawmakers To Raise Cigarette Tax And Pass A Statewide Smoking Ban To Reduce Cancer Deaths
The Markey Cancer Center at the University of Kentucky supports a statewide smoking ban and an increase in the state cigarette tax to significantly reduce cancer deaths in the state, the center's director told a legislative committee Sept. 3....
- Northern Kentucky Health Board Supports Statewide Smoking Ban
The main health board in Northern Kentucky, where local smoking bans have stirred much controversy. has endorsed the idea of a statewide ban on smoking in all places of employment. "The 32-member board, which represents Boone, Campbell, Grant and Kenton...
- Videos Aim To Educate Policymakers About Smoke-free Laws
With a statewide smoking ban proposed in the legislature, which reconvenes next week, and local ordinances still being proposed and passed, the Kentucky Center for Smoke-Free Policy has produced eight video vignettes to help educate policy makers...