Jacksonville, Fla., July 8, 2008 – Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton and director of the Duval County Health Department Bob Harmon, M.D., joined representatives from all Jacksonville-area hospitals and Brooks Rehabilitation at City Hall this morning as they announced that on Nov. 20, the day of the Great American Smokeout, they will all become entirely tobacco-free.

At that time, the use of tobacco products  will no longer be permitted anywhere on the campuses of Baptist Medical Center/Baptist Heart Hospital, Baptist Medical Center Beaches, Baptist Medical Center Nassau, Baptist Medical Center South, Brooks Rehabilitation, Memorial Hospital/Cyberknife Cancer Center, Orange Park Medical Center, Specialty Hospital, Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, St. Luke's Hospital, University of Florida Health Science Center-Jacksonville, University of Florida Jacksonville Healthcare, Inc. Clinics and Wolfson Children's Hospital.

Mayo Clinic and St. Vincent's Medical Center, already smoke-free, have united with the group in support.

The hospitals will use the next four months to prepare patients, employees, families and visitors for the tobacco-free transition. For those who smoke and want to quit, assistance will be offered in supporting their efforts. Information is available at www.dchd.net.
 
"These health care providers are to be applauded for uniting to provide healthy environments for their patients, employees and visitors," Mayor Peyton said. "This cooperative effort demonstrates not only a commitment to the health of the entire community, but also what can be accomplished when organizations come together for the greater good."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 90 percent of nonsmokers in the United States are exposed to secondhand smoke. One whiff contains at least 40 chemicals known to cause cancer, and the American Lung Association credits it with approximately 3,400 lung cancer deaths each year. The American Heart Association estimates that secondhand smoke may cause as many as 69,000 heart disease deaths in adult nonsmokers yearly.

Dr. Harmon said, "Smoking is now the country's leading cause of preventable death, responsible for the premature death of nearly a half million Americans each year. By joining the ranks of the more than 1,000 hospitals nationwide who have implemented smoke-free policies, our hospitals are not only doing the right thing, but also setting a strong example for other businesses in our region."