World No Tobacco Day

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Yesterday was World No Tobacco Day.

We had a great day at work. I work in a major public hospital. We (2 nurses, 5 pharmacists and me) set up a huge display in the foyer of hospital with information regarding quitting smoking.

We offered free carbon monoxide tests.

We had heaps of helium filled balloons with quit smoking logos on them.

So we had some interest from people but not as much as we'd hoped. I'd done about 6 carbon monoxide tests after 30 minutes.

I decided to go outside to where all the smokers sit. So I took the carbon monoxide meter, a pile of brochures and a big bunch of helium balloons.

I went outside and it was a glorious day - about 24 degrees (so much for winter!). I found one group of 8 smokers and asked them if they wanted free carbon monoxide testing and to discuss quitting smoking and they were like ... great, yes!

We were having a great time - it was like a competition to see who had the highest carbon monoxide levels! So all these other smokers were coming over to see what all the laughing was about and there was quite a crowd. After 20 minutes I'd managed to do 18 tests.

Then they were firing questions at me about how to quit smoking etc etc.

A lot of them had been quite shocked at their carbon monoxide test results and were picking my brains. I was giving lots of information about nicotine patches etc

Then the d*ckhead security guard comes over and tells them they have to leave the hospital grounds (smoking is banned on hospital grounds but only sporadically enforced by security). I had an argument with the security guard - I told him to leave us all alone while we finished this discussion (most were smoking as we were chatting). He was trying to get them to leave or put out there cigarettes.

Anyway I won the argument and then was I 'Miss Popularity'. You're never going to get people to quite if you're judgemental or hostile about their smoking.

I invited them all to come and visit me at the gym and meet some people with emphysema. Sure, a lot of them said. I thought I'd never see any of them again.

Today about 8 of them came and visited me at the gym. I asked my patients who are oxygen dependent if they could have a chat with the 'smokers who are considering quitting'.

The oxygen dependent patients basically said, 'quit now or end up like me!'. They then told the smokers how they had managed to quit.

I was really happy when 6 of the smokers showed me they were wearing nicotine patches. They had bought them after chatting with me yesterday.

I've told the smokers they can visit me at the gym anytime for further information and support.

It was a really great day at work yesterday! Even if only a couple manage to quit it would have made it worthwhile.

Smelena

Every day should be world no tobacco day.

Well done!

Congrats!

I suggest you have a competition with yourself and each year, see if you can beat your previous record of tests.

Well done. Maybe you could give hydrogen filled balloons out instead, to every smoker

We were handing out the balloons to any little kids walking past. You could tell who the smokers were because their kid would want a balloon and they'd say, NO.

Then little kid would be waaaaaaa I want a balloon.

I concur with every ounce of my being!

I work in cancer research. Sadly, I think about half of the researchers are smokers.

Third'd

I had a cousin who died, primarily from his emphysema. He had been quite an active guy, until it set in. He then progressively, over several years, became frailer and frailer. Not a nice way to go.

He never stopped smoking.

Currently, I have just beaten my longest previous period of not smoking. I Guess I started at 14-ish, and have been a heavy smoker for most of the 44 years since.

The main exception periods have coincided with times when I've noticed how unfit it makes you.

When I was doing Kung Fu, I got annoyed with myself, because I couldn't spar for more than a couple of minutes without getting out of breath. Gave up for about eight months I think. An injury stopped the martial art and I slipped back into smoking.

The longest was when I joined a choir. Again, here it was not being able to hold a note long enough that made me stop, for about 18 months. Stopped the singing, started smoking.

Other than those two, a week is probably the longest gap.

I've not had a single puff of a ciggy since the end of November 2005. No particular reason for stopping, this time, so maybe it'll last.

Fourth'd.


Can't stand the smell.