In September the LSC-Kingwood campus conducted its own survey to find out how students and employees felt about second-hand smoke. The results were clear, “83% of the respondents indicated that second-hand smoke was a concern for them with 73% of the respondents concerned about long-term health effects. While the respondents preferred smoking policy is to ban smoking everywhere on the LSC-Kingwood campus, more indicated that the best policy is to allow smoking only in shelters built for that purpose.” New smoking restrictions, which were a compromise from a total ban, have been discussed and will be implemented across campus beginning January 1, 2010.

Before the restrictions go into place, the college will be doing its part to help educate Kingwood residents and students about the harmful effects of smoking. Students in the LSC-Kingwood Respiratory Care program will be creating presentations and exhibits to be on display throughout the day of November 19 – the Great American Smoke Out – to create awareness on the harmful effects of cigarette smoke. The college will continue to get information to the community about smoking and about the new smoking restrictions.

The restrictions will limit smoking to three designated smoking shelters located away from buildings and near parking lots. Katherine Persson, LSC-Kingwood President is hopeful as Kingwood residents can be, that this will be a positive step in the health of the community. A report released last month by the AHA (American Heart Association) noted that “one year after passing smoking bans, communities in North America and Europe had 17 percent fewer heart attacks compared to communities without smoking restrictions.”

For more information on the new policy or find other information regarding LSC-Kingwood please visit them at www.LoneStar.edu/Kingwood

Source: www.kingwood.com