Local News
Annual Smokeout targets families at local school
Smiling children and busy parents and grandparents were part of the scene at Jefferson School in McAlester Thursday morning as the Pittsburg County Health Department set up a table in front of the school to distribute materials about tobacco use to those who would stop and talk.
That was part of the annual Great American Smokeout Day to encourage people to quit tobacco use for a day in hopes they will decide to make the change permanent.
Robin Lindley, tobacco prevention coordinator with the Pittsburg County Health Department, talked with those walking the children into the school. Later, the county health department was also involved with a health fair at the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant.
Among the ones who stopped and visited at Jefferson Thursday were those who had quit, wanted someone they knew to quit, or just wanted to sign up for a prize being given away.
Lindley was happy with the response at the school.
“We’re really pleased with how things went here today,” she said, noting that a lot of people had signed up for a prize drawing.
She also said there were some parents and visitors who shared their opinion on the importance of smoke-free homes and cars, the benefits of quitting, and how they quit using tobacco.
For more information about how to quit using tobacco, or to volunteer to help with the message, call the Pittsburg County Health Department at 423-1267. There is also a toll-free Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline, 1-800-QUIT-NOW, to obtain a two-week starter kit for those interested in quitting tobacco. The service is free to any Oklahoman.
“It’s been very helpful for thousands of Oklahomans, at this point,” Lindley said.
John Yates is the news director for McAlester Radio.
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