The Great American Smokeout: Part Deux

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Ashley Wolfe
  • 47th Flying Training Wing public affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Children grab carrots, apples and "Stacee's Stealth Mix" off a table while staff members receive free massages and "Mrs. Butts", a cigarette that walks and talks, greets visitors. This was the scene was in the Losano Fitness Center Nov. 18.

These sights were all a part of the Great American Smokeout, which is a national event sponsored by the American Cancer Society and supported by the Department of Defense. The goal of the event is to educate tobacco users on the programs that exist that can be utilized to quit their habits.

The members of the Health and Wellness Center have been building up to this event all month.

Grisel Sanchez, HAWC health educator, personally went around to most of the squadrons on base advertising the event and sharing information on the harmful effects of using tobacco products. She said that they were able to reach about 85 percent of the people they targeted.

Sanchez also hosted several events for Laughlin's youth in order to educate them on how harmful using tobacco can be. The message was received well, especially by the older children, she said.

One aspect of the Smokeout was to encourage the children to participate in the event by entering a poster contest supporting the tobacco-free message. The posters were judged by HAWC personnel. First place went to Kayla Herzog, second place went to Macy Oyala and third place went to Maui Oyala.

Even though the event is over, the HAWC still offers resources to those who want to commit to quit. They usually receive a few calls a week requesting information about their programs and advice on what steps to take to start quitting, said Sanchez.

The HAWC staff is already planning ideas for next year's Great American Smokeout.

Sanchez hopes to do a more squadron specific event, so that it is more easily accessible and people do not feel singled out. This feeling may have been what prevented many from attending the actual event, she said.

Overall, Sanchez declared Thursday's event a success and said she hopes that next year it will be even better.