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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Polly Carver-Kimm
Polly.Carver-Kimm@idph.iowa.gov
Healthy
Homes are Smoke Free Homes
The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) joins the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in recognizing June as the second annual
National Healthy Homes Month (NHHM).
The theme for the month is “Just What the Doctor Ordered.” One focus of the
observation is smoke free homes. Adults and children who breathe secondhand
smoke have an increased risk for asthma, ear infections, heart disease and lung
cancer.
The main place young children breathe secondhand smoke is in their homes.
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, three million children in the U.S. under
the age of 6 years old breathe secondhand smoke at home at least four days per
week.
The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) Smoke Free Homes Registry lists
more than 1,000 smoke free rental properties. In order to be entered in the
registry, a property must have at least one building that is 100 percent smoke
free and must have this specified in the lease language. To find a smoke free
rental property in your area, visit SmokeFreeHomes.iowa.gov.
Residents
of a smoke free property who use tobacco are given information about Quitline
Iowa to help them quit smoking. Quitline Iowa pairs tobacco users with a Quit
Coach® to help them develop a quitting plan and determine if patches, nicotine
gum or lozenges, or another medication would help them quit for good. A Quit
Coach® also helps those enrolling in the program by:
- Preparing
participants for their quit date
- Helping develop
an individualized Quitting Plan
- Providing tips
and support to live in a smoke free environment
- Offering advice
and information on medications that may help with withdrawal symptoms
All
Iowans can take advantage of the program by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW
(1-800-784-8669) or visiting www.quitlineiowa.org to enroll. Registration
specialists and Quit Coach® staff members are available 24 hours a day. To learn
more about smoke free properties in Iowa visit https://smokefreehomes.iowa.gov.
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