No more smoking on hospital grounds

February 17, 2012

Yellowknife, N.W.T. -  As of Valentines Day, the Stanton Territorial Health Authority put a stop to the use of tobacco products of any kind in its buildings and on its grounds.

Stanton Hospital's chief executive officer, Kay Lewis, said the purpose of the prohibition is to protect patients and staff.

"We now know the harmful effects of smoking, causing cancer and many other illnesses, [and] the impact that second hand smoking has as well. So it's just an evolution of creating a culture of awareness."

Lewis also said hospitals are falling in line with other places which banned smoking a long time ago, although that wasn't always the case.

"If you look back in history a couple of decades ago we saw people smoking very much in public areas and places that today we'd probably be shocked to see them."

The Hay River Health and Social Services Authority also went ahead with a similar tobacco ban which came into effect on Feb. 14th as well.

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