CRESTVIEW — North Okaloosa Medical Center officials are kicking off their smoke-free site celebration this afternoon.
North Okaloosa Medical Center is a smoke-free location starting today, Dec. 1. The celebration is 2:30 p.m. in the hospital cafeteria, 151 E. Redstone Ave., Crestview.
The hospital and its affiliated physician offices are going tobacco-free that day. After this time, no tobacco use of any kind will be permitted — inside or outside — on hospital property or on any affiliated properties.
This initiative includes the elimination of designated areas outside NOMC where employees, patients and visitors were permitted to use tobacco products.
A spokesperson for the hospital stated, "As a healthcare organization, we are committed to the health and safety of our employees and patients. We believe that we have a responsibility to take a leadership role on this major health issue, and establishing all our properties as tobacco-free.
"Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. About half of all lifetime smokers will die early because of their decisions to smoke. In Florida, an estimated 28,000 people die from tobacco use annually. The US Surgeon General has confirmed that exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke is a serious health hazard and that there is no risk-free level of exposure. Tobacco use in and around healthcare facilities poses health and safety risks for patients, employees and visitors.
"North Okaloosa Medical Center’s decision to go tobacco-free is not an attempt to force anyone to quit using tobacco products. Rather, the tobacco-free initiative is a concrete way to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to healthy living and we are asking for community support as we embark on our tobacco-free initiative.
"We are asking for community support as North Okaloosa Medical Center’s launches the tobacco-free initiative."
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa Medical Center kicks off smoke-free status with Dec. 1 celebration