Students’ Art Promotes Smoke-Free Hospital Campus

“Not smoking is full of cans — I can. You can. We can.” So states Cheyenne Watson, age 12, in her coloring contest entry to promote Jay Hospital’s smoke-free campus initiative that will take effect August 1. More than 100 Jay Elementary School students lent their artistic abilities to create encouraging messages and drawings that will help alert visitors and patients of the facility’s new smoke-free policy.

Twelve entries were selected to be used in materials that will promote the policy. The posters will be posted inside and outside the building to serve as friendly reminders to patients, visitors, vendors and employees. Currently all of the coloring-page submissions are displayed throughout the hospital.

• Daniel Belden, age 12
• Brittany Bird, age 12
• Drake Ellis, age 8
• Ashlyn Geck, age 12
• Alex Jackson, age 11
• Alyssa Nelson, age 7
• Lacey Nowling, age 11
• Paige Smith, age 11
• Savanna Smithson, age 11
• Brittany Tegenkamp, age 12
• Savannah Almeida, age
• Cheyenne Watson, age 12

Health and safety were the driving reasons in Jay Hospital becoming a smoke-free campus. The coloring contest is a good way to spread the word about the new policy and to encourage children to think about reasons to avoid smoking. The students’ messages in the art work range from subtle and humorous to direct and serious. While the focus and tone varies, all are creative and will help support the hospital’s healthy message.

Jay Hospital’s smoke-free policy will apply to all areas on the hospital property, including parking lots and grassy areas near the building. Guests and staff members will be asked to extinguish cigars and cigarettes before entering the hospital premises.

Long-banned from indoors, more and more hospitals and other health care providers are gravitating to completely banning smoking from campus grounds. Ash trays are being replaced with flowering plants and designated smoking areas are becoming outdoor sitting areas where staff, visitors and family members can enjoy the outdoors.

Other Baptist Health Care facilities also have adopted smoke-free policies including Baptist Manor and Baptist Behavior Medicine, both in Pensacola, and West Florida Community Care Center in Milton.

Jay Hospital’s medical staff strongly supports the initiative and plans to provide assistive measures for those who request help. Information and education also will be made available.

“We are excited about this plan and what it means for the health and safety of the people in our community,” said Lance Raney, M.D., chief of staff, Jay Hospital. “We are proud to provide a smoke-free environment for our patients, employees and visitors.”