|
|
|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 28/3/06 SMOKE FREE WARWICKSHIRE
PRESS RELEASE
The Griffin Inn clears the air for customers with Silver National Clean Air Award
The Griffin Inn Public House at Nuneaton is the first workplace in Warwickshire to go Smoke Free since the vote in the House of Commons for all workplaces and enclosed public places to be smoke free by the summer of 2007. A Silver National Clean Air Award has been awarded to the Griffin Inn. A National Clean Air Award recognises and rewards employers who protect staff and visitors from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke
Dale Smith, proprietor of The Griffin Inn, said “The Griffin Inn has just undergone a refurbishment, being aware of the legislation we took the decision not to wait, but to offer both our staff and customers a pleasant, healthy, smoke free environment now and we are absolutely delighted with our award”.
Zoe Jennison, from Warwickshire Stop Smoking Service added, “I am really pleased and would like to congratulate Mr Smith on both the reopening of The Griffin Inn as a smoke free pub and gaining the National Clean Air Award. Mr Smith is sending a very clear message that he cares about the health and wellbeing of both his staff and customers. I am sure the staff and customers of the Griffin Inn will welcome an environment they can work, eat, drink and socialise in without having to breathe in the 4000 plus chemicals that cigarettes contain”
Being smoke free protects staff and visitors from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. In just 5 minutes of breathing secondhand smoke, the main artery of the heart, the aorta, stiffens and the heart has to work harder to pump blood. After 20 minutes exposure, the blood starts to ‘clog’ at the same rate as a 20-a-day smoker. In time, breathing in other people’s cigarette smoke increases risk of a heart attack or stroke.
The National Clean Air Awards is a Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation Initiative and is the first UK wide scheme that rewards organisations that implement an effective smoke free policy.
Smoke Free Warwickshire are the franchise holders of the award on behalf of the Warwickshire Primary Care Trusts, and are keen to encourage any company or organisation, large or small, who has implemented or is planning to implement a smoke free policy to apply. To find out more about the award go to www.cleanairaward.org.uk or phone 0800 0852917.
The introduction of a smoke free policy is a good opportunity for smokers who were thinking of stopping anyway to give up for good. The Stop Smoking Service in Warwickshire operates through doctors’ surgeries and pharmacies, providing intensive support and nicotine replacement therapy. Smokers can also get free help and advice on stopping smoking by calling the NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 0 169. ENDS 28/3/06
Contact: Dale Smith Tel: 07866 473336 Zoe Jennison Tel: 07766 696170
Photo Opportunity Details: Thursday 30th March 2006 at 3pm, The Griffin Inn, Coventry Road, Griff, Nuneaton, CV10 7PJ.
Notes to Editor: · Secondhand tobacco smoke harms non-smokers and up to 12,000 deaths in Britain each year are caused by exposure to secondhand smoke. Employers have a legal obligation to protect the health of their employees. Despite this, more than 3,000,000 non-smokers are exposed to second hand smoke at work. This leaves employers open to the risk of health and safety litigation. · In Warwickshire around 30,000 people are exposed to secondhand smoke in the workplace. People working in the hospitality industry (pubs, bars and restaurants) are particularly at risk · The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation was formed following the death of Roy Castle who died of Lung Cancer. Roy Castle did not smoke and his cancer was attributed to the years working in smoke filled clubs. Secondhand tobacco smoke harms non-smokers and up to 12,000 deaths in Britain each year are caused by exposure to secondhand smoke. Employers have a legal obligation to protect the health of their employees. Despite this, more than 3,000,000 non-smokers are exposed to second hand smoke at work. This leaves employers open to the risk of health and safety litigation. · The National Clean Air Award is the first UK wide scheme that rewards employers who implement effective workplace no-smoking policies by giving them a prestigious nationally recognized award and provides them with guidance to help them get their policy right.
Smoke Free Warwickshire is a multi-agency alliance committed to providing smoke free air, helping smokers to stop and promoting a tobacco free society.
For More Information Contact: |
|
Send mail to
smokefreewarwickshire@nhs.net with questions or comments about this web
site.
|
