WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.Editorial: Tobacco Free

Editorial: Tobacco Free

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By Collin Gaston - bio | email

  • Editorials

  • Friday, May 18 2012 7:20 PM EDT2012-05-18 23:20:53 GMT
    If you text and drive it's a matter of WHEN and not IF you will be involved in an accident. The odds are stacked against you when your eyes and hands are more focused on your cell phone than they are
    If you text and drive it's a matter of WHEN and not IF you will be involved in an accident.  The odds are stacked against you when your eyes and hands are more focused on your cell phone than they are the other motorists on the roadways.

  • Tuesday, May 15 2012 7:20 PM EDT2012-05-15 23:20:31 GMT
    On our editorial suggesting that the governor raise taxes to fund Medicaid, we received these comments: "If the budget is passed at this severely cut rate, the shortage of physicians, hospitals, and clinics
    On our editorial suggesting that the governor raise taxes to fund Medicaid, we received these comments:

  • Tuesday, May 1 2012 7:20 PM EDT2012-05-01 23:20:35 GMT
    If your commute includes I-85 in the mornings I'm sure you've noticed men alongside the roadways picking up trash and road debris and thought to yourself "who would want to do that?"
    If your commute includes I-85 in the mornings I'm sure you've noticed men alongside the roadways picking up trash and road debris and thought to yourself "who would want to do that?"

  • Friday, April 20 2012 7:20 PM EDT2012-04-20 23:20:42 GMT
    For the next sixty seconds I want you to give yourself permission to push pause on whatever you are doing and listen and reflect for a moment. I did this recently after reading an article titled "Top five

  • Wednesday, April 18 2012 7:27 PM EDT2012-04-18 23:27:31 GMT
    Representative Christopher John England (Tuscaloosa) has sponsored a bill in the Alabama legislature that would allow convicted felons of drug crimes to receive food stamps under certain circumstances.
MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

At the beginning of this year Baptist Health, Jackson Hospital and HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital jointly implemented a tobacco-free campus policy.  This smoke-free policy included their sidewalks, grounds and facilities.  This was a bold move that deserves continued recognition, discussion and praise. 

In Alabama 40 hospitals had already taken these aggressive measures to eliminate smoking or tobacco use on their grounds by patients, visitors and employees.  With over 440,000 deaths attributed to smoking each year it was time for a policy change such as this.

Now is also the time that we encourage other health providers to follow suit.  Additionally, we would applaud any local college or university that would consider doing the same.

The Alabama Department of Public Health is ready to help with a free help line, website and online counseling services for any Alabamian who is ready to quit smoking today. 

Log onto www.alabamaquitnow.com for more information.

Make 2011 the year that you say goodbye tobacco and hello to better health.

We welcome your feedback.

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