Date set for Great American Smokeout

Van Wert independent/ACS information

As the official sponsor of birthdays, the American Cancer Society marks the 36th Great American Smokeout on November 17 by encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. According to an American Cancer Society report, smokers who quit can expect to live as many as 10 years longer (that’s 10 more birthdays) than those who continue to smoke.

The American Cancer Society along with Van Wert County Hospital are asking members of the community to go Cold Turkey for one day for the chance to win a frozen turkey donated by Cooper Farms. Stop by the Van Wert County Hospital cafeteria on November 17, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and turn in a pack of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, loose tobacco or cigars to enter. Participants will also receive a “Quit Kit” full of items and ideas to help them take one step closer to being an ex-smoker.

Research shows that quitting could prevent much of the risk of premature death from smoking. Smokers who quit, regardless of age, live longer than people who continue to smoke. Smokers who quit reduce their risk of lung cancer — 10 years after quitting, the lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker’s. Quitting also lowers the risk for other major diseases including heart disease and stroke.

“Quitting smoking is an important step towards staying well and creating a world with more birthdays,” said Marybeth Torsell, health promotions coordinator for the American Cancer Society. “The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout is a great first step towards quitting or making a plan to quit, and the Society can help smokers through a variety of resources including personalized telephone coaching by trained specialists.”

The American Cancer Society created the trademarked concept for and held its first Great American Smokeout in 1976 as a way to inspire and encourage smokers to quit for a day.  One million people quit smoking for a day at the 1976 event in California. The Great American Smokeout encourages smokers to commit to making a long-term plan to quit smoking for good.

Important facts about tobacco use:

• Tobacco use remains the world’s most preventable cause of death.
• Cigarette smoking accounts for about 443,000 premature deaths – including 49,400 in nonsmokers.
• Thirty percent of cancer deaths, including 87 percent of lung cancer deaths, can be attributed to smoking.

Smoking accounts for more than $193 billion in health care expenditures and productivity losses annually.

About the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.5 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, about 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 800.227.2345 or visit http://www.cancer.org/.