American Lung Association of Hawaii : Home : Executive Director's Message
Summer 2008
Dear ALA of Hawaii Families and Friends:
It’s summertime, and whether or not this means the livin’ is easy, with summer comes cookouts and fireworks – and for many with lung disease, these smoky outdoor activities can make living anything but easy. For ALA of Hawaii, this is a time of year when we receive many calls to help those with lung disease cope.
Over 154,000 people in Hawaii have some form of lung disease. You likely know at least a couple of people who cannot count on each breath as a certainty. If you’re planning outside gatherings this summer that include a fire pit or a cookout, please consider using a gas grill, especially if you are planning to cook in heavily populated or communal housing areas.
We know many fireworks will be used on Independence Day. With fireworks, too, it’s impossible to localize all the smoke they generate, and smoke drift can be a real irritant to those both at and near your gathering.
Summer weather is often variable and potentially voggy. This year, we have seen increased incidence of volcanic activity on the island of Hawaii and the resulting vog on other islands. Cookouts and fireworks can add to this pollution, so please think about the affects of both on your family, friends and neighbors near and far.
We wish you and your family a happy, healthy summer and remember, “When you can’t breathe, nothing else matters.”
Jean
February 8, 2008
As Hawaii residents enjoy a dinner out on the town this Valentine’s Day, the American Lung Association of Hawaii (ALA of Hawaii) asks you to think about something you take for granted – the air around you.
It wasn’t long ago that most restaurant air was polluted with cigarette smoke. Maybe you were used to it then, but now that it’s gone from our restaurants, bars and all other indoor public spaces, clean air adds to our enjoyment and improves our health.
When State legislators enacted the 2006 public places smoking ban, they did so knowing there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Some businesses now claim they’ve been harmed by the law. Whether or not that’s true, the law’s overriding public benefit is that smoke no longer damages the health of employees and patrons alike.
The ALA of Hawaii strongly disagrees with those who say smoking licenses should be available to willing establishments and that prospective employees would be informed as a condition of employment that smoking is allowed.
As a society, we strive to improve working conditions and eliminate threats to health and safety. The no-smoking law has done that for all Hawaii residents and deserves our continued support.
Sincerely,
Jean
Don't let pro-smoking lobby put Hawaii residents at risk
IT APPEARS some people would like lines to be drawn between smokers and nonsmokers in a very ugly fashion. I am dismayed that we soon might be engaged in a war within the Legislature in which lawmakers will be subjected to a lobbying assault motivated by self-interest to amend or repeal a law designed to protect all Hawaii residents from secondhand smoke in public spaces.
Secondhand smoke inhaled by children increases their risk of respiratory illnesses, middle ear infections and decreased lung function. The effects on the elderly are similar.
If someone in a family smokes, he or she might want to consider the effects of smoking on the unwitting victims who might be exposed to secondhand smoke in the car, at home or other places. Hawaii's current law to protect the breath of everyone, however, is not a matter of freedom of choice; it's the law and is meant to safeguard the lungs of all residents and our visitors.
Smoking is the leading preventable cause of premature death and disability and, according to the Centers for Disease Control, is responsible for approximately 2,304 deaths per year in Hawaii and 440,000 nationwide, with an approximate annual cost of $553,450,000. It greatly increases the risk of contracting asthma, cancer, heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Smoking leads to 66 percent more complicated births among women who smoke during pregnancy.
When a smoker decides to quit, we and other organizations are here to help. Smokers can call the American Lung Association's Quit Line from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hawaii time at 800-LUNG-USA for advice, support and understanding from real people, most of whom are former smokers. The American Lung Association of Hawaii conducts Freedom from Smoking Clinics, a two-month program in the workplace to help smokers understand and move beyond their addiction.
We each need to remember, "When you can't breathe, nothing else matters."
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