Tobacco-Free Schools
One of the most effective ways to keep our children safe from the tragedies caused by tobacco use is to begin educating them at a early age about tobacco. Schools play an important role in preventing tobacco use by youth.
Not only should our children's schools be smoke-free to protect the immediate health of our children, teachers, staff; anyone working in that environment must also help to provide a consistent message of "no tobacco use." Schools that are not tobacco-free send conflicting messages to students about tobacco use.
Values and Benefits of a Tobacco-free school
- Provides positive role modeling by adult employees and visitors
- Reduces children's observation of tobacco use and takes a firm stand against it.
- Supports prevention messages delivered in classrooms.
- Provides safe environments for students by reducing their exposure to secondhand smoke.
- Complies with Federal Legislation prohibiting smoking inside school buildings.
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The Tobacco Prevention and Cessation program has developed guidelines individuals and groups may follow in working with school systems to investigate tobacco free policies and their enforcement, educating students about the health risks of tobacco use and the schools role in assisting students who want to quit.
Please feel free to download and distribute this document - Tobacco Free Schools. The Tobacco Free Pledge allows teens and youth to make the pledge to remain tobacco free for life. This downloadable form can be used at health or school fairs to draw attention to the need for teens to remain tobacco free. The Tobacco Free Pledge is also available en español.
For additional information about the benefits of tobacco-free schools, follow these links:
Other resources include:
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