Highline Goes Tobacco-Free, Inside and Out
In keeping with our mission to improve the health of our community, we have become a tobacco-free campus. The use of any tobacco product is now prohibited inside and outside all Highline Medical Center property and grounds, including parking garages.
Although January 5 marked the official "Quit Day," the effort to go tobacco-free began months earlier through system-wide communication and education initiative developed in partnership with leading experts, including King County Public Health and the University of Washington. As part of the initiative, staff members at Highline were encouraged to quit smoking and offered subsidized smoking cessation support through the recognized Free and Clear program.
The majority of hospitals in King County now have tobacco-free campuses - a move that only makes sense, according to CEO Mark Benedum: "as a healthcare organization, we have a responsibility to create a healing environment that promotes health, wellness and safety not only for our patients, but for our staff, physicians, volunteers and visitors."
Highline Receives Recognition from Public Health - Seattle & King County
"On behalf of Public Health - Seattle & King County and the Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) Leadership Team, I want to thank you for implementing a tobacco-free Highline Medical Center campus.
Your strong commitment to a tobacco-free environment makes Highline Medical Center a leader in our region. Thank you for your contributions to a healthier King County."
David Fleming, MD
Director and Health Officer
Public Health - Seattle & King County
Why it pays to quit
Thinking about quitting smoking? The health benefits begin within minutes of smoking your last cigarette:
- Within 20 minutes, your heart rate drops.
- 12 hours later, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
- Two weeks to three months after quitting, your heart attack risk begins to drop and your lung function begins to improve.
- One year after you quit, your added risk of coronary heart disease is reduced by half.
- Between five and 15 years, your stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker's.
- 10 years after quitting, your risk of death from lung cancer is about half that of a smoker's. Your risk for cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas also decreases.
- 15 years after quitting, your risk for coronary heart disease is back to that of a non-smoker's.
If you or anyone else you know would like support to quit smoking, please call the National Tobacco Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or go online to www.quitline.com.