Smoke-Free Events

SMOKE-FREE EVENTS

CREATING HEALTHY AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL

AS A COMMUNITY, WE DO THIS TOGETHER

Individuals are more successful in making healthy choices when “environmental supports” are in all of the places where they live, learn, work, and play. Our built and social environments influence our behaviors, including the decision of whether or not to use tobacco products.

Examples:

Smoke-Free Events
Smoke-Free Parks and Recreation Facilities
Dedicated spaces for community gardens and farmers

10% of Windham County adults and 5% of children under the age 18 have asthma. (According to the VT Dept of Health 2016-17 BRFSS)

More than half of Vermont smokers have made a quit attempt in the past year, according to the VT Dept. of Health. Reducing secondhand smoke at public events can help to support them.

WHAT THE COMMUNITY SAYS

Recent surveys have found that respondents favor smoke-free events:

PERCENT

support smoke-free outdoor areas.
Note: Survey conducted by VT Dept of Health 2016.

PERCENT

thought that smoking should only be allowed in designated smoking areas.
Note: Survey conducted by Brattleboro Area Prevention Coalition and Greater Falls Connections 2018-19.

Respondents to a 2012 survey in Windham County said that they support the following events being smoke-free:

All Public Events: 80%
Children Events: 96%

Family Events: 90%
Community Events: 85%

NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US

Those impacted by decisions being made in the community need to have voice and power in the making of those decisions to ensure equity and inclusiveness in the process.

By having the support of a broad cross-section of residents, your changes are more likely to gain acceptance, which can reduce the amount of time needed for compliance.

Tips include:

Get meaningful input from both smokers and nonsmokers.
Ensure the populations that are most affected, have experienced trauma, or have been historically marginalized hold decision-making power.

Make sure that everyone’s needs are considered before decisions are made.

Equality vs. Equity image from Interaction Institute for Social Change: https://interactioninstitute.org/illustrating-equality-vs-equity/

EXAMPLES OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Examples of tobacco-related community support

Add smoke-free policies to public, kids, and family events.
Pass and enforce tobacco-free or smoke-free policies in public spaces.
Designate areas to smoke and vape.
Monitor tobacco-free school grounds and events.
Restrict the sale of tobacco near schools, child care centers and playgrounds.
Create tobacco-free or smoke-free shopping areas.

The community coalitions in Windham County provide free signs.

3-4-50 VERMONT

“Businesses, schools, cities and towns, and health care providers all play an important role in shaping the health of Vermonters. Our common goal is to make the healthy choice the easy choice where we live, work, learn and play. Communities that are built to support physical activity, safe walking and biking, use of public transportation, and easy access to fresh foods are essential for good health.”

LOCAL SMOKE-FREE EVENTS

Strolling of the Heifers Slow Living Expo
River Valley Credit Union’s Kids Fair
Winter Carnival’s Children’s Events
Twilight Music Series on the Lawn

Wellness in Windham County Health Festival
Roots on the River Music Festival
Deerfield Valley Farmer's Day Fair
Blueberry Block Party, Wilmington

Need Assistance?

Our Tobacco Coordinators can help you with any questions you have about creating smoke-free environments.

Deb Is Here to Help in the Bellows Falls Area
Call 802-365-1324 or email deb@greaterfallsconnections.org