Delco Kids Honored For Anti-Smoking Essays

MEDIA, PA – Two local students who penned essays urging family members to quit smoking were honored by the Delaware County Council and the Delaware County Tobacco-Free Coalition Wednesay, Nov. 15 as part of the county's recognition of the Great American Smokeout.

Every year on the third Thursday in November, the American Cancer Society and its partners encourage people to give up all tobacco products for one day as part of the Great American Smokeout. The hope is that first step leads to a tobacco-free lifestyle for life.

"Thanks to education and outreach efforts by many public health organizations, we are all aware of the toll that tobacco use takes on our health," County Councilman Michael Culp said. "While we have made progress in reducing tobacco use, nearly one in five Americans still smokes, and more than 2,800 kids try their first cigarette, which today might be an e-cigarette."

At the Nov. 15 weekly meeting, Delaware County Council was joined by members of the Delaware County Tobacco Free Coalition to recognize Nov. 16 as the Great American Smokeout, a day set aside nationwide to urge people to quit smoking.

The council also recognized student winners of the Great American Smoke Out Youth Essay Contest. The students each wrote a letter to a family member encouraging them to quit smoking and telling them about the dangers of smoking.

A resolution declaring Nov. 16 as the Great American Smokeout in Delaware County is just one aspect of the county’s smoke-free campaign.

On Nov. 9, the Tobacco-Free Coalition’s celebrated the Great American Smokeout featuring an educational program plus a student essay contest.

"The essays written by the young students really had a strong impact," Culp said. "All the children had someone special in their lives…a parent, a grandparent…who they wanted to quit smoking because they want to have them in their lives for a long time."

Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of premature death in the United States. Tobacco kills 480,000 people each year and its costs the United States about $170 billion in health care expenditures. These are deaths that can be prevented.

"It is Council’s hope that smokers in Delaware County quit the habit for one day, tomorrow for the Great American Smokeout," Culp said. "Then we encourage them to take advantage of all of the smoking cessation programs and medical products that will help them lead healthier, nicotine-free lives"

Pictured from left, are Laura Fidorowicz, Delaware County Office of Behavioral Health; Mike Barnard, Chair of the Delaware County Tobacco-Free Coalition; essay contest winner Sadey McPherson, 5th grade student at Aston Elementary; Councilman Michael Culp; essay contest winner Carys Doyle, a 5th grader at Glenwood Elementary; Kara Hawthorne Chivalette, Wellness Education Specialist at Bryn Mawr Hospital; Helen McGoohan, Intercommunity Health. In back from left are Sara De Angelo, Wellness Coordination, Delaware County Community College; Vice Chair Colleen Morrone; Chairman Mario Civera Jr.; and County Councilmen John McBlain and Dave White.

Image via Delaware County