Fort Scott Tribune: Local News: USD 234 smoking ban begins today (06/30/09)

According to a press release from the USD 234 school district, beginning today a new tobacco policy approved by the USD 234 Board of Education takes effect. Starting today, tobacco use of any kind is not permitted at any time on any property owned by the school district. This includes buildings, campuses, athletic fields, parking lots, etc.

The Fort Scott school district joins a growing number of schools across the country in adopting this policy. Healthy lifestyles are being promoted, and this includes the avoidance of any kind of tobacco use, including the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.

The school district encourages anyone who would like help in quitting smoking to call (866) 526-7867.

According to Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov, smoking harms nearly every organ of the body. Tobacco smoke causes many diseases and reduces the health of smokers in general. The adverse health effects from cigarette smoking account for an estimated 438,000 deaths, or nearly one of every five deaths, each year in the United States. More deaths are caused each year by tobacco use than by all deaths from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides, and murders combined.