Parks Beaches and Recreation Areas Insert CountyCityVillageTownship Name Tobacco Free Outdoor Recreation Areas Recreational Area a public or private area open to the public for recreational purposes whether or not any fee for admission is charged including but not limited to amusem ID: 915455
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Slide1
Tobacco-Free Outdoor Spaces: Parks, Beaches and Recreation Areas
[
Insert County/City/Village/Township Name
]
Slide2Tobacco Free Outdoor Recreation Areas
Recreational Area: a public or private area open to the public for recreational purposes, whether or not any fee for admission is charged, including but not limited to, amusement parks, athletic fields, beaches, fairgrounds, gardens, golf courses, parks, plazas, skate parks, swimming pools, trails, and zoos
Playground: any park or recreational area designed in part to be used by children that has play or sports equipment installed or that has been designated or landscaped for play or sports activities, or any similar facility located on public or private school grounds or on [City or County
] grounds
Slide3Tobacco-Free Policy Protects Wildlife
Slide4Background for Tobacco-Free Policy
Commercial tobacco use is the #1 cause of preventable death and disease
Secondhand smoke (SHS) is a health hazard with no safe level of exposure (U.S. Surgeon General, 2006)
Smokeless tobacco is not a safe alternative to cigarette smoking and causes significant death and disease
E-cigarette aerosol has been found to contain nicotine, heavy metals and a variety of other chemicals that are known human carcinogens
Slide5Tobacco Free Policy prevents exposure to secondhand smoke
Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) in outdoor environments:
SHS exposure outdoors can reach levels attained indoors depending on the direction and amount of wind and number and proximity of smokers
Irritation from SHS begins at levels as low as 4 micrograms per cubic meter, and in some outdoor situations this level can be found as far away as 13 feet from the burning cigarette
To be completely free from exposure to SHS in outdoor places, a person may have to move nearly 25 feet away from the source of the smoke, about the width of a two-lane road
Slide6Tobacco Free Policy Protects Youth
Commercial tobacco use in outdoor areas where youth recreate sends a negative health message
Tobacco-Free policies reduce the number of youth who begin using commercial tobacco by demonstrating a tobacco-free community norm
Slide7Cigarette Butt Litter
Cigarette butts are the most littered item in the United States and have a negative impact on the environment
Americans discard more than an estimated 175 million pounds of cigarette butts every year
Cigarette filters, made of plastic cellulose acetate, are not biodegradable and take approximately 15 years to decompose
Slide8Tobacco Litter
Nicotine found in cigarettes and e-cigarette cartridges and bottles is considered hazardous waste and can be toxic to humans and animals.
Improper disposal of tobacco/nicotine products can enter the water supply, be consumed by children who find them, and harm wildlife, including aquatic animals.
E-cigarettes contain lithium ion batteries which can leach heavy metals such as mercury, lead and bromines, as well as battery acid, into the ground.
Slide9Protect Children From Poisoning
Littered cigarette butts pose a health risk to young children:
In 2009, American poison control centers received nearly 8,000 reports of children poisoned by the ingestion of cigarettes, cigarette butts, and other commercial tobacco products
Children who ingest cigarette butts can experience vomiting, nausea, lethargy, and gagging
Slide10Poisoning
Slide11Secondhand Smoke and Aerosol
In children, secondhand smoke and aerosol can cause:
Ear infections
More frequent and severe asthma attacks
Respiratory symptoms (e.g., coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath)
Respiratory infections (i.e., bronchitis, pneumonia)
Slide12Tobacco Free Policy Protects Against Fires
Discarded e-cigarette cartridges and cigarette butts pose a fire risk
Slide13Public Support for TF Parks and Beaches in [insert community name]
Use this slide to list agencies supportive of the initiative including health, environmental, youth, and other types of organizations
Use this slide to demonstrate support (i.e. beach clean-up, youth involvement, etc.)
Add results of public polling
support
Slide14Authority to Adopt Tobacco-Free Parks/Beaches Policy *Use this slide for Cities/Counties
The State of Michigan has granted and declared to [
insert
counties OR cities
] the power to legislate in the protection of the public health and for the safety of persons and property
It is in the purview of the authority of the [
County Commission/City Council of ______
] to restrict smoking and the use of tobacco products on [
County/City
] property
Slide15Authority to Adopt Tobacco-Free Parks/Beaches Policy
*Use this slide for Townships/Villages
Both townships and villages have the authority under state law to adopt ordinances and regulations
There is no Constitutional right to smoke or use commercial tobacco products
Slide16[insert Mission/Vision of Jurisdiction Decision-Making board if applicable]
Mission/Vision
Show how tobacco free policy being presented ‘fits’ with the mission/vision of the decision-making board
Slide17[insert local contact name][
insert local contact information
]
Slide18Considerations When Working on Tobacco Free Beaches, Parks and Recreation Areas Policy
Slide19Increase the odds of successful policy passage
Get coalition agreement on the need for the policy. Collaborate with community agencies and youth organizations.
Educate on the policy benefits. Include community groups, the public and those who have the power to pass the policy (City Council, County Commissioners, Parks and Recreation leadership.) Use youth to carry the message!
Collect resolutions of support from organizations and agencies, school systems, individuals, etc.
Promote the benefits of a tobacco free policy through the media, Letters to the Editor, etc.
Survey/poll the public in a variety of settings to collect data on community support for the policy.
Slide20Increase the odds of successful passage
EDUCATE! Make compelling arguments for:
Public health benefits, especially for children
Positive role modeling for keeping youth tobacco free
Less litter means less maintenance costs for clean up by workers
Environment - no pollution, less trash in waterways, rivers, lakes, etc.
Understand the political process, how decisions are made, where your decision makers ‘stand’ on the policy
Identify a champion(s) who can influence decision makers
Make sure you ‘have the votes’ from decision makers
Slide21Issues to Consider -
Policy
Tobacco Free – ALL commercial tobacco products including e-cigarettes, spit tobacco, any new generation product (orbs and strips, IQOS - I Quit Ordinary Smoking), etc.
Use model policy language which can be adapted for local use.
100% of Property – include things such as picnic areas, trail connections, etc.
Slide22Issues to Consider – Policy and The American Indian Religious Freedom Act
If a park/beach/recreation area is located in an area where ceremonial/sacred tobacco use may take place, the policy should allow the ceremonial/religious use of tobacco by Tribes in accordance with
Th
e American Indian Religious Freedom Act,
a US federal law passed in 1978.
Th
e American Indian Religious Freedom Act protects and preserves the traditional religious rights and cultural practices of American Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts and Native Hawaiians. These rights include, but are not limited to,
access
to
sacred sites…freedom to worship through ceremonial and traditional rites…and
use and possession of objects considered sacred
.
Slide23Slide24Issues to Consider - Policy Enforcement
Most policies are self-enforcing if there is adequate, clear and well-placed signage
Educate staff and the public
Public and staff participation (i.e., ask violator to comply with policy)
Model policy includes sample enforcement language to be adapted locally
Slide25Issues to Consider -
Support
Pollution prevention
Public health benefits
Cost-savings on tobacco litter clean up
Safe recreation spaces
Substance-free policies
Child and family friendly
Fire hazard
Community poll to gauge support
Slide26Issues to Consider -
Leadership
Emphasize the leadership role of the decision - making body:
Good neighbor
Leadership in region/community
Partner for good health
Protecting people, especially kids
Slide27Issues to Consider -
Procedure
Decide what type of policy: city ordinance, county regulation, policy located on Native land, etc. This will determine the decision-making body.
Educate and include parks and recreation department
Give public notice & hold hearings
Find champions who can testify at hearings
Collect resolutions of support and present at hearings
Slide28Issues to Consider -
Promotion
Engage community leaders
Ribbon cutting
Photo opportunities
Share stories
Positive signage
Post policies and announcements
Post signage and educate staff and public after policy passage
Slide29Examples of Signage
Slide30Signage
Slide31MDHHS Tobacco Control Program Resources
Model policy language – see web link below
Sample signage
Technical support from Michigan’s Smoke-Free Environments Law Project attorney
www.michigan.gov/tobacco
Click ‘creating tobacco free spaces’ for resources
Slide32National Resources
Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights
http://www.no-smoke.org
Cigarette Butt Litter
http://www.beachapedia.org/Cigarette_Butt_Litter
Tobacco litter costs and public policy: a framework and methodology for considering the use of fees to offset abatement costs
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3088473/
Slide33Resources
Tobacco Free Youth Recreation
http://www.tobaccofreeparks.org/policy_steps.html
Public Law Health Center
https://publichealthlawcenter.org/topics/commercial-tobacco-control/smoke-free-tobacco-free-places/outdoors