Mon Health Providers to Educate Public, Provide Resources on Tobacco Prevention for Great American Smokeout on Nov. 21

Vandalia Health’s Mon Health System experts from around the state will provide education and outreach as part of the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout on Nov. 21.

The Great American Smokeout, a nationwide event encouraging people to quit smoking and using other tobacco products, serves as an opportunity to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco and provides resources and support for those ready to make a fresh start toward better health.

Experts at Vandalia Health’s Davis Medical Center in Elkins invite the public to join them for a free information session from 8AM-Noon, Nov. 21, in the outpatient lobby. Respiratory Therapist Terri Pennington will be on hand to offer free screenings using the Smokerlyzer, a device that measures the amount of carbon monoxide in a person’s body using a breath test.  

“The Great American Smokeout is a perfect day for anyone looking to quit smoking or who may be on the fence about quitting to come visit us on Nov. 21 and take that first step toward a healthier life,” Pennington said. “The Smokerlyzer screening is a powerful tool for us to show people just how much smoking is affecting their health, and in many cases that’s the extra push they need to make the decision to quit.”

In Preston County, Mon Health Preston Memorial Hospital will mark the Great American Smokeout by hosting an informational booth that day in the hospital’s lobby. 

Tobacco and vaping use among young people in West Virginia remain a pressing public health concern. While traditional smoking rates among youth have decreased, e-cigarette use has surged in recent years, exposing a new generation to nicotine addiction. Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital nurse Tiffany Lowther, who is certified in the vaping prevention program CATCH My Breath, will visit students at local schools, including Lewis County High School, Nov. 21 as part of the Great American Smokeout observance.

“I am happy to educate area youth about the dangers of vaping,” Lowther said. “This is a great opportunity for children and adults to learn more about vaping risks.”

The CATCH My Breath program is a free, evidence-based youth vaping prevention program helping to reduce students’ likelihood to vape. Aimed at youth in grades 5-12, the program has been implemented in more than 5,500 schools across the U.S. and Canada.

For more information on the Great American Smokeout, visit www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/tobacco/great-american-smokeout.html .