When to Butt In

Use these tips to help our hospital become smoke-free

Ask your son to clean his bedroom, but leave his clothes lying on the floor. Doesn’t make a lot of sense, does it? It’s like our old smoking policy. “We teach people to live healthy and care for people with heart and lung disease and cancer,” says smoke-free environment committee member Jack Dunleavy, “yet we permitted smoking on our property. We had to change.”

LVHHN will become totally smoke-free on Jan. 1, 2007. Colleagues, patients and visitors will not be permitted to smoke anywhere on LVHHN property. “Our new policy is being phased in slowly,” Dunleavy says. Previously, smoking was permitted anywhere outdoors. Now, smoking is only permitted in designated areas in the rear of LVHHN buildings.

When you see people smoking outside a designated area, tell them about it. “To maintain a healthy and safe environment for patients and colleagues, we’ll need everyone’s help,” Dunleavy says.

It Will Be a Difficult Road
If you understand why people smoke, you’ll realize it’s difficult to quit. “Tobacco is physically and psychologically addictive,” says psychiatrist Laurence Karper, M.D. “All addictions provide enjoyment, and people become emotional when they’re told they can’t do something they enjoy.”

• When inhaled, nicotine gets into your bloodstream and travels to your brain. There, it creates the good feelings you get from smoking and the irritability you feel while trying to quit.
• Stress causes cigarette cravings. Smoking is rhythmic and relaxing. It provides a break from the cause of stress.
• Cravings may be triggered by other things, like coffee, alcohol and food.

• People smoke through force of habit—at a certain time of day, when they drive or talk on the phone.

Breaking the Ice
When you see someone violating our smoking policy, don’t accuse or criticize. Instead, be empathetic, because he may be trying to quit. (More than 100 colleagues have enrolled in our tobacco treatment program since November.) The best approach: Make eye contact, introduce yourself and start a conversation. “Don’t tell him what to do,” Dunleavy advises. “Instead, ask a question and give him a chance to respond.” Say: “Did you know this is a nonsmoking area?”

 Direct him to a designated smoking area, but remind him we’ll be smoke-free in January. “Make clear it’s a health and safety issue, not a personal one,” Karper says. “Explain it’s not only harmful to him but also to patients and visitors who breathe in secondhand smoke.” Statistics might help him understand.

• Nearly a half-million Americans die every year from tobacco.

• Every year, 53,000 nonsmokers die from secondhand smoke.

The Response
Be prepared. “The response you expect may not be what you get,” Karper advises. When people are told they can’t smoke, they’ll likely respond one of these ways:

• Mr./Mrs. Agreeable - They’ll apologize and go to a designated smoking area.
• Mr./Mrs. Stare - They’ll look at you and not say a word.
• Mr./Mrs. Emotional - They’ll become very angry.

Dealing with someone who becomes emotional may be difficult. “But no matter how people respond, take comfort in knowing you’re helping,” Karper says. Here are some comments you might hear and how you should respond:

• If a colleague says, “I’m going to smoke here anyway,” tell him you really wish he’d reconsider. If he doesn’t follow the rules, talk to your manager about what to do next.
• If a colleague says, “I’ll leave campus to smoke,” tell him he’s really needed here by his colleagues and patients.
• If someone says, “I’ll cooperate with you if you let me smoke,” tell him you understand it’s difficult to quit, and that he can get free quit-smoking aids (like nicotine patches) through the tobacco treatment program, covered by Choice Plus.
• If someone becomes confrontational, security is available to assist. Call extension 555.

To learn more about our tobacco treatment program, signs and maps that designate smoking areas, and links to helpful tobacco cessation Web sites, call 610-402-CARE.

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