Alliston, Ontario (July 11, 2010) - Everyone has heard the saying "fresh as a daisy," but what does it mean? At Stevenson Memorial Hospital, it means Smoke-free. Stevenson Memorial Hospital has set their sights on cleaner air for all patients, staff and visitors and is launching an information and education campaign to go smoke-free as of July 11, 2011.

"At Stevenson, we recognize that an essential component of delivering quality healthcare to our patients is through disease prevention and education." says Gary Ryan, President and CEO. "As such, we’ve made a decision to follow in the steps of most healthcare organizations in our region and become a smoke-free campus. Individuals come to us to seek quality care and to get better. We have an obligation to ensure that each and every person who enters our doors can do so in a safe, healthy environment."

To assist staff, physicians, and volunteers to quit smoking, Stevenson is making smoking cessation support and education available on site. As well, Stevenson will offer information packages to assist those who wish to access an external support system. A number of initiatives will be offered throughout the next year to support the campaign, including lunch and learn sessions, support groups, and an incentive program.

The Smoke Free committee is working with clinical areas to produce medical directives. These directives will help patients who wish to quit smoking as well as offer support to reduce cravings and to assist throughout withdrawal management.

"The good news is that according to Smoke Free Ontario, the success rate for quitting is increasing and many people are breaking the habit for life," states Karen Maisonneuve, Chair of Stevenson’s Smoke Free Committee. "We understand how challenging it can be to quit and we want to make our staff, physicians, volunteers, and patients as comfortable as possible throughout the quitting process."

To help educate the community about the change that is coming, informational signage displaying the campaign's theme of "Fresh as a Daisy" will be posted in the coming weeks at all entrances and exits. These signs will serve as a reminder to all staff, patients and visitors for the next year at which time they will be replaced with permanent signage.

Smoking statistics: Did you know...?

• The Ontario government spends $817,733,502 on acute care hospitalization for both active and passive smokers.
• It costs over $2,000 a year, to smoke a pack of cigarettes a day.
• Tobacco kills approximately 37,000 Canadians each year.
• Diseases caused by second-hand smoke include: Heart Disease, Lung Cancer, Nasal Sinus Cancer and Non-Malignant Respiratory Disease.

For more information on how to quit smoking contact the Canadian Smokers' Helpline at 1 877-513-5333.