Project seeks to snuff out smoking

"This program was designed for healthcare providers and educators in an effort to help pregnant women quit smoking," said Susan Everett, RN, director of Project Action at St. Mary's Hospital in Amsterdam.

Staff members from Catholic Charities of Montgomery County recently participated in a workshop sponsored by Project Action to help its clients make positive changes by either quitting smoking or cutting down on the number of cigarettes they smoke.

Dousing fires

"We have brochures and fliers available for our women clients and families," he said. "We try to help them make the right choice for themselves and their families."

According to the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, smoking is probably the most important preventable cause of poor pregnancy outcome among women in the U.S. For example, smoking during pregnancy is responsible for 20 percent or more of cases of low-birth-weight infants. Research also suggests that infants of mothers who smoke during and after pregnancy are more likely to die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Puffing away

In addition, between 200,000 and one million children with asthma have their condition worsened each year by exposure to secondhand smoke.

Exposing an infant to secondhand smoke also increases the child's risk of pneumonia, bronchitis and fluid in the middle ear.

Time to quit

(For further information on "Make Yours A Fresh-Start Family," contact Susan Everett at 841-7288. For information on smoking and its effects, go to www.cancer.org.)

(06-06-02) [[In-content Ad]]