Danbury Hospital Campuses Going Smoke-Free November 19

DANBURY — Danbury Hospital announces that it will implement a smoke-free policy on all of its campuses effective November 19, coinciding with the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout. Danbury Hospital’s buildings have been tobacco-free for many years, and starting November 19, no tobacco use of any kind will be permitted anywhere on Danbury Hospital property — inside or outside (the ban includes parking lots, garages, or on hospital grounds), and this policy applies to all employees, patients, visitors, medical staff members, and vendors.

“As members of the health care community, we witness the devastating toll that tobacco takes on the lives of our patients, family, and friends,” said Marianne Mitchell, APRN and coordinator of Danbury Hospital’s “Quit Now” smoking cessation program.

“The new policy is an effort to create a healthier community and to promote a higher level of care by addressing a serious public health issue that surround tobacco use and dependence,” Ms Mitchell added.

To help this cause, the hospital continually offers smoking cessation programs and other complementary alternative medicine programs that are made available to its employees and the people in the community.

As a health care organization, Danbury Hospital’s primary mission is to advance the health and well-being of the people and communities it serves. By adopting a smoke free policy, it is setting an example of wellness and prevention that is important in facilitating positive health outcomes for its patients, staff and community, said Ms Mitchell.

The Danbury Hospital smoke-free campus policy is an effort to create a healthier community and to promote a higher level of care by addressing a serious public health issue that remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, accounting for approximately one of every five deaths (438,000 people) annually. An additional 50,000 people died from exposure to secondhand smoke, and each day, approximately 1,100 children become regular, daily smokers, according to the American Lung Association.

The smoke-free policy supports a national priority mandated by the Surgeon General Dr Richard Carmona to provide an environment free of involuntary exposure to secondhand smoke.

Starting Thursday, November 19:

*Smoking will not be allowed anywhere on Danbury Hospital property — inside or outside, including parking lots, garages, or on hospital grounds.

*The policy applies to all employees, patients, visitors, medical staff members, and vendors.

*The smoke free-campus initiative includes no tobacco use of any kind on any of Danbury Hospital campuses, including off-site facilities.

*Danbury Hospital provides smoking session programs to help individuals quit smoking for good. To learn more, call 203-739-8161.  

To learn more about Danbury Hospital’s smoke-free policy, visit its website at www.danburyhospital.org.