4 Volusia County Employers Implement Tobacco-Free Workplaces

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Volusia County, FL - Four leading Volusia County employers have implemented a tobacco-free policy for their employees and customers. According to Volusia County Department of Health (DOH), Florida Hospital and Halifax Hospital have eliminated smoking on their campuses for employees and visitors. Daytona International Speedway has also joined in the tobacco-free trend by providing a smoke-free stadium, and Daytona Beach Tortugas Baseball joined in by making their entire ballpark tobacco-free. "Going tobacco-free was an easy decision as an organization focused on the commitment to our community, youth and its families,” Ryan Keur, president of the Daytona Beach Tortugas, explains. “We have proven our commitment to being much more than a baseball team. Acting as role models, we can help build a healthier and stronger Volusia County." This spring rings in the Tortugas’ first tobacco-free season. The DOH says tobacco-free work sites can save employers an average of $6,000 a year per employee. According to the American Lung Association, smoking costs Florida businesses about $19.6 billion a year due to lost productivity, premature death, and healthcare expenditures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States. On average, smokers die about 10 years earlier than non-smokers. Exposure to secondhand smoke can also cause disease and premature death among non-smokers. “Tens of thousands of children and adults die each year of health complications related to secondhand smoke exposure,” Patricia Boswell, Volusia County Department of Health administrator, says. “There is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke.” You can learn more about Tobacco Free Florida’s Quit Your Way programs here. More information on the Tobacco Prevention Program can be found by calling DOH-Volusia at 386-274-0601. Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2018.