June 13, 2006
Department of Health announces new Young Lungs at Play initiative to keep parks, playgrounds tobacco free 06.06
The Rockland County Department of Health’s Steps to a HealthierNY program announces a new initiative, Young Lungs at Play, developed to make parks and playgrounds in Rockland tobacco free, that will kick-off at noon on Tuesday, June 13th at Haverstraw Bay County Park in Haverstraw.
Spearheaded by the Steps to a HealthierNY program, the County of Rockland along with the Town of Orangetown, and Villages of Nyack, Pomona, and Sloatsburg, have united in an effort to eliminate children’s exposure to secondhand smoke at public parks and playgrounds.
“Secondhand smoke is a proven health risk, and we must do everything we can to keep it away from our children,” said Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef. “This new initiative will help us protect our children from the insidious affects of cigarette smoking.”
Rockland County Commissioner of Health Dr. Joan Facelle said, “young children can pick up cigarette butts that end up on the ground and put them in their mouths, possibly choking or burning themselves.”
Municipalities in Rockland were asked to develop a local law, ordinance, policy or resolution that stated the parks and playgrounds or specific areas within the park or playground be designated as tobacco-free, post signage indicating the tobacco-free zone(s), plan for the enforcement of the tobacco-free zone(s), and plan to notify and educate staff and the community about the tobacco-free zone(s). Through a partnership with POW’R Against Tobacco Coalition, Put It Out Rockland, and Reality Check, interested municipalities are provided with weather resistant signs to indicate the tobacco-free zone(s), personnel to conduct a community education event, educational materials, and additional assistance as necessary.
“Young Lungs at Play is a common sense initiative,” said Allan Beers, Director of the Rockland County Division of Environmental Resources. “Children should not be subjected to secondhand smoke while having fun at a playground.”
For more information contact the Steps to a HealthierNY Program at the Rockland County Department of Health at 845-364-2500 or steps@co.rockland.ny.us
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