Youth Breathe Easy (BE) Teams Prepare to Reduce the Toll of Tobacco in Jefferson County

Did you know that nearly 9 out of 10 people who use tobacco start by the time they graduate from high school? Tobacco use is an epidemic and remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States, and youth in Jefferson County are working to change this by preparing for a year of coordinated efforts to reduce the toll of tobacco in their schools and communities.

Breathe Easy (BE) teams are clubs that exist in five Jefferson County High Schools including Golden, Jefferson, Lakewood, Ralston Valley and Wheat Ridge. Sponsored by their high schools and Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH), BE Teams work to cause sustainable change that supports healthy, tobacco-free environments and prevents youth from initiating tobacco use. 

Annually, as part of a kick off to the school year, JCPH sponsors an intensive half-day Youth Advocacy Workshop that includes skill-building activities and leadership training to support BE Team students in their advocacy and outreach efforts throughout the school year. This year’s workshop will take place on October 3, 2015, from 9am to 1:30pm at the Jefferson County Courts and Administration Building and will include lessons in communications, policy change and public speaking. The workshop also allows for teambuilding and fun. By bringing BE Team students from each of the area high schools together, students report feeling connected to a bigger movement to end the tobacco epidemic. 

Tristin Roman, a Lakewood High School senior, became a dedicated BE Team member after attending the Youth Advocacy Workshop three years ago. One of Tristin’s significant accomplishments as part of the BE Team involved testifying before the Golden City Council to advocate in favor of their smoke and vapor-free public places ordinance, which passed unanimously in August 2014 and became effective January 1, 2015. Additionally, Tristin was recently appointed the inaugural position of Youth Chair of the Tobacco-Free Jeffco Alliance, an alliance of individuals and organizations addressing tobacco use in Jefferson County. In response to his participation as a BE Team member, Tristin stated, “I am really glad I joined the BE Team because it has made me a better person and improved my life. I’ve become a better leader and public speaker.”

Most recently, Wheat Ridge High School BE Team members have been advocating for a stronger smoke and vapor-free public places ordinance in the City of Wheat Ridge through a variety of activities such as a cigarette butt pick-up in Discovery Park and testifying to Wheat Ridge City Council about their findings.  If passed, the new ordinance would prohibit the use of electronic smoking devices in places that are smoke-free and would expand smoke and vapor-free protections to outdoor public recreation areas, city events, and outdoor transit waiting areas. The Council is expected to vote on this ordinance on October 12.

 To learn more about the Jeffco Breathe Easy Team or sign up to get involved, visit www.JeffcoTobaccoFreeYouth.com or contact Zach Dunlop at zdunlop@jeffco.us or 303-239-7169. For more information about this year’s Youth Advocacy Workshop, visit tobaccofreejeffco.com/events/. 

“I Am a Smoke-Free Zone”

Jefferson County Public Health is proud to help launch “I Am A Smoke-Free Zone,” a new education campaign with a focus on limiting children’s exposure to secondhand smoke. “The campaign’s message that children are “smoke-free zones” is important,” said Donna Viverette, JCPH Tobacco Prevention Initiative Supervisor. She also stated, “We know secondhand smoke is harmful to everyone and that children are often the innocent bystanders. This campaign reminds people to protect kids by not smoking around them and helping them to avoid others’ tobacco smoke as well.”

The campaign focuses on common myths about secondhand smoke:

1. The myth that blowing your smoke out a window or door prevents secondhand smoke exposure, 
2. The myth that ventilation in a home or car is a good strategy, 
3. The myth that room deodorizers can minimize risk, and 
4. The myth that if it’s not enough to smoke in another room, open windows, and get rid of the odor, then the only other option is to quit.

According to Viverette, “The only way to fully protect children against secondhand smoke is to make cars and homes 100% smoke-free and never smoke around children,” said Viverette.

In children aged 18 months or younger, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports secondhand smoke exposure is responsible for an estimated 150,000–300,000 new cases of bronchitis and pneumonia annually and approximately 7,500–15,000 hospitalizations annually in the United States.

For more information on how to protect children from secondhand smoke go to IAmASmoke-FreeZone.org or visit Tobacco-Free Jeffco online.

Smoke Free Environments Are Catching On

An interest in improving health, the environment and safety has communities and businesses across the State working to protect everyone from the dangers of tobacco smoke.  Recent local examples include the following:

In April, the City of Lakewood strengthened its smoke-free ordinance to include prohibiting smoking within 25 feet of all public entryways and around all playgrounds, swimming areas, skate parks, athletic fields, picnic shelters, tennis courts, and similar locations in outdoor areas.  Smoking is also prohibited on festival grounds or in places where people congregate to partake in city events or outdoor concerts. 

Denver International Airport (DIA) announced in May that it supports Denver Mayor Michael Hancock’s plans for creating a better, healthier Denver by moving toward becoming a smoke-free facility.  Creating a healthier environment for travelers and employees, the airport has closed all but one of its four indoor smoking lounges with plans to close the final lounge in 2018.

In June, the pedestrian and bike path along Clear Creek in the City of Golden was declared as smoke-free through administrative order by City Manager, Mike Bestor.  This action was taken primarily to address environmental and over use concerns but has sparked conversations regarding the desire for expanded smoke-free restrictions in outdoor areas.

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.*  Smoke-free environments protect everyone.

• For more information or to get involved in tobacco prevention efforts in supporting smoke free environments, visit www.smokefreejeffco.com or contact Donna Viverette at 303-275-7555 or dviveret@jeffco.us.

* U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2006.