FREE Services Available Through the
Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline
The
influence of a father in the lives of his children is unparalleled. This
Father’s Day, the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline encourages fathers to take the
first step to a healthier life for themselves and their families by quitting
tobacco.
Infants
and young children are particularly vulnerable to secondhand smoke, as their
bodies and lungs have not yet fully developed. Exposure to secondhand smoke can
lead to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), ear infections, asthma attacks,
bronchitis, pneumonia, low birth weight and more. This Father’s Day, families
can support their fathers in maintaining a tobacco-free lifestyle.
Family and
friends are encouraged to visit the “Help Someone Quit” page at OKhelpline.com for tips and
advice to help loved ones quit tobacco.
If you are thinking about quitting, click here to learn more about the free services available from the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline.
 The TSET Board of
Directors awarded a total of $172,500 to 6 communities, 16 school districts and
1 school site at its May board meeting.
These grant funds are earmarked as part of a long-term,
comprehensive effort to prevent Oklahoma kids from starting to smoke or
becoming obese. Grants are awarded to communities and schools that have
implemented key strategies to increase healthy opportunities for employees, residents,
and students.
“By taking the actions recommended by the Certified Healthy
Oklahoma Program and TSET Incentive Grant programs, these communities and schools are making meaningful changes
that encourage Oklahomans to live a healthy lifestyle and prevent tobacco use
and obesity before they take root,” said TSET Executive Director John Woods. “Combined
with other prevention efforts, these communities and schools are working to
reduce the demand on an already stressed health care system; saving lives and
saving money.”
To learn more about TSET’s incentive grant program and to
find out which communities and schools were awarded, click here.
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TSET Healthy Living Grant Partnership in Logan County Encourages Residents to Get Active to Pay Off Library Fines
 A brisk
walk or a few minutes on the treadmill could help pay off library fines in
Logan County.
The TSET Healthy Living Program in Logan County has partnered
with local gyms to help encourage residents to increase their physical activity
by allowing residents to sweat off their library fines.
Exercise
for Fines, is a program that allows library-card holders to visit their local
YMCA or Anytime Fitness gym to exercise in exchange for paying off their
library fines. For every 15 minutes of exercise, $1 of the fine is worked off.
“Oklahoma
is in the middle of an obesity epidemic,” said Courtney McLemore, TSET Healthy
Living Program coordinator at the Logan County Health Department. “About 33
percent of adults and 17 percent of youth under age 18 are obese in the state.
Exercise for Fines is a public health effort to help combat obesity statistics
in a unique way.”
Local
libraries started the program five years ago with help from the Logan County
Health Department, which housed a TSET Communities of Excellence grant. The
grantee helped design the program and promotes it each year through social
media, local newspapers and word of mouth.
The program
continues today and TSET now funds a Healthy Living Program grant which works
with businesses, city governments, community organizations and schools to
encourage healthy eating, physical activity and tobacco-free lifestyles.
Logan County’s TSET
Healthy Living Program has also partnered with local organizations for Guthrie
Summer Streets, which promotes physical activity and raises awareness about the
benefits of a walkable community.
Learn more about TSET’s
Healthy Living Program and important partnerships for health in Logan County here.
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Pictured above: Prague
Schools Superintendent Justin Lockwood; Elementary Principal Jennifer Smith;
TSET Healthy Schools Incentive Grant Program Manager Sharon Howard
Prague Public School
District was recently honored for their efforts to improve health through the Healthy School District Incentive Grant
program.
The district plans
on using the $5,000 incentive grant to purchase physical activity equipment and
physical education curriculum. The equipment will also be used to enhance the
Czech Point After School and summer reading and fitness programs.
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