Wednesday, November 12, 2003

Smoking ban makes sense for life in Fayette

I was somewhat surprised by the media statement that the Commissioners gave a cool reception to the proposed smoking ban in our county. However, I do not know how many of you may be smokers and how much politics and/or revenue enter into the equation but as a lowly taxpayer, I wish to add an additional two cents.

Have you ever had to leave a restaurant without finishing your meal - the one that you paid your hard earned money to buy - because you have an asthmatic child who cannot breathe because of the smokers in the next booth?

Have you ever asked someone while waiting in a line to put out their cigarette or at least hold it up near his face and not down by his side where the smoke is going into the eyes of a 5-year-old standing there - only to have him insult you?

Have you ever been a non-smoking secretary who had to sit in a room full of smokers taking minutes of a meeting only to have a sore throat, runny eyes, and discomfort for days afterward?

Have you ever seen a non-smoking waitress who has to inhale the smoke of customers all day long because she has to support a family or earn college tuition?

Have you ever been unavoidably exposed to cigarette smoke and blow blood clots out of your nose the next morning?

Have you ever had a child burned in an attorney's office by a careless smoker flicking their ashes on her 1-year-old arm?

Have you ever been sick to your stomach because of an illness or treatment like chemo, but unable to go out in public because the stench of cigarette and cigar smoke makes you deathly ill?

Have you ever stood by the bedside of a young father as he gave hugs to his wife and three daughters before giving the thumbs up sign to disconnect his life support? Addicted since elementary school, this wonderful father died from emphysema after struggling to breathe for eight years with the last one spent on life support? He left behind one daughter who has terrible allergies that costs her discomfort and high medical bills?

Have you ever buried four family members who died of cancer who had been addicted since their youth?

Have you ever come home from a gathering only to have your sweater and hair reek of cigarette smoke?

Have you ever had an infant in your family die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome while the parents were playing cards only one room away - and smoking?

Have you ever paid for Ice Capades tickets and waited with excitement with your children to attend the gala only to have so many folks around you smoking that you had to continually fan away the smoke with your program?

Have you ever known of children who up in a household with a smoker who as an adult suffered from bronchitis for the rest of their lives although they themselves never smoked a cigarette?

Have you ever stood at the nursery window of a hospital looking at a premature baby living

on life support - born too early - with underdeveloped lungs to a mother who smoked during her pregnancy? I often wonder if these nurses smoke and/or wear loud smelling perfume around them? Others do in other parts of the hospital.

Have you ever known of an elderly grandmother who had to have a cornea transplant because the

caregiver who was supposed to be attending her sat for years by her side smoking?

Have you ever known of a small three or four year old child who was riding his tricycle on the sidewalk only to have a cigar land down the back of his shirt thrown by a careless smoker from a passing car which caused lifetime scarring?

Have you or someone you know ever suffered from emphysema, heart trouble, asthma, bronchitis, or other breathing disorders that caused them to become homebound because they could not tolerate the smoked filled environment?

Have you ever been ill and stepped into the elevator of a hospital with a cigar- smoking man;

only to heave your guts out by the time you reached your doctor's office when the hospital was clearly a no smoking zone?

Have you ever had to ask people to leave your office or your business because they were smoking around flammable conditions and in no smoking areas?

Have you ever seen a resource officer in a high school bust kids for smoking on school grounds only to bum a cigarette off of another?

Have you ever been concerned about a teacher's lounge that emits a thick fog of cigarette smoke when the door is opened? Doesn't this concern you about a fire hazard as well?

Have you ever sat down at a table in a restaurant before the previous customer's plates were cleared to see snuffed out cigarettes in their dinner plates? Mash potatoes seem to be a likely spot. It is enough to spoil your appetite?

Have you ever asked people to stop smoking around you only for them to insult you and make you feel like you were the one who did something wrong?

Have you ever had someone continue to smoke after you asked them not to only to have them tell you that it is their right to smoke?

After speaking up about smoking in public places have you ever had anyone call you fat?

Have you ever stayed away from establishments because they allowed smoking in their facility?

Have you ever been in a hospital bed and have a nurse lean over you with a fresh smell of cigarette smoke on her person making you want to toss up your lunch?

Have you ever been sitting under a hair dryer at the beauty shop and have someone else's smoke waft across the room and up into your drier as if being drawn by a smoke magnet? Mix that with perm solution and nail fixings and you would really get sick?

Have you ever held a new born infant whose blankets and clothing smelled like cigarette smoke?

Have you ever know of an elementary school child completely humiliated because their parent

wore T-shirts to their school with cigarette logos on them?

Well, I can say yes to all the above.

And one more question, why have a Board of Health, if you are not going to listen to their

recommendations. Are they just wasting their time and spinning their wheels? Is it not their job to research and recommend changes in things that are detrimental to public health?

Is this not becoming the trend across America as other caring Board of Commissioners think of health before wealth?

Are you going to pander to those who wish to keep smoking in their establishments for the

fear that to prevent smoking will affect their bottom line? Are they insecure about their products and/or services that they believe they will fold up if they do not allow smoking?

The health issues of the community should far out weigh any and all rights and reasons why thoughtless and inconsiderate smokers are allowed to cause serious harm to those around them - both customers and non-smoking employees.

Another thing to consider - the smokers themselves. When spending a lot of time in a room with multiple smokers, this increases their chances of smoke related problems by the shear volume of smoke taken into their lungs. Especially since people don't all smoke the same brand. We all pay for increased health premiums, decreased health care, and lost work days caused by complications of smoking.

And finally, I say to Mr. Gregg Dunn I think you are right. I think this is still America - at least the last time I checked with CNN. It would seem, Mr. Dunn, that it pays to be in the minority these days. One person objects to prayer and Bible reading in school and out the door it goes.

One atheist objects to the phrase, "One Nation Under God" in our Pledge of Allegiance and

it heads to the Supreme Court. We are living in an era where the few rule the many. I dare say, Mr. Dunn, does this statement about America also apply to those who get drunk and get behind the wheel of a car endangering the lives of our citizens as well? What about drug dealers and porn peddlers - this is America for them too.

And to the Board of Commissioners in general, what don't you understand about the years and years of research that explains that secondhand smoke is even more dangerous than firsthand?

You say that you do not plan to vote on this issue until more information is gathered. Where have you been? The results are in - the decision has been made by qualified medical personnel

"SECOND HAND SMOKE KILLS PEOPLE!" If you need more information, please let me know and I personally will volunteer to gather up all this information from my computer and send it to you.

When you were elected to office you were supposed to serve and protect the citizens of this county - not the tourist trade nor the bottom lines of individual businesses.

And to Dr. Michael Strain, Mr. VanLandingham and others on the Board of Health, please keep on trying to preserve the health of our citizens, young and old, God bless you. Keep up the good work. Don't stop until the goal is reached.

You have my full support and the support of many other voters.

Commissioners, I will be watching carefully your decision on this matter and how you cast your vote. I hope and pray that we have Commissioners who will put the health and welfare of the citizens who voted them into office far above those of any other consideration. This is an important issue and is not to be considered with coolness. This is the opportunity for you to show the citizens of this county that you mean what you say in your campaign pledges.

For A Smoke Free Public Environment!

Patricia McCullough Walston

Fayetteville, Ga.