Breathing Emergencies Decline After Irish Smoking Ban
A national smoking ban in Ireland has led to reduced hospital emergency admissions for respiratory ailments. It’s the latest evidence of the health benefits of tobacco control.
Seven years ago, Ireland introduced a nationwide ban on smoking at work. Previous studies looked at the impact on other medical issues and found, for example, fewer hospitalizations for heart attacks and other coronary emergencies. But Imran Sulaiman of the Galway University Hospitals found a gap in the existing research. Ream more »
Hospitals in Montgomery today will jointly announce a no-exceptions policy prohibiting tobacco use.Baptist Health, Jackson Hospital and HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital will hold a news conference at 11 a.m. today at the Alabama Department of Public Health. The hospitals will announce that effective Jan. 1, 2011, no tobacco will be allowed on hospital property. The ban will include sidewalks, grounds and facilities.The tobacco ban, which already is in place at more than 40 hospitals in the state, will apply to employees, visitors and patients.The measure is part of the hospitals’ overall commitment to improving health, hospital leaders stated in a news release.