Letters to the Editor

Public opinion

data released

To the Editor:

Two-thirds of residents in rural communities in Indiana support a comprehensive smoke-free workplace law that eliminates secondhand smoke in all workplaces, including bars and restaurants, according to new public opinion survey data released Oct. 7, 2010 by the Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA).

The public opinion data, collected and analyzed by the IU Survey Research Center, found that across rural communities in Indiana, 66% of rural Hoosiers support a law making all workplaces, including bars, restaurants and membership clubs, smoke-free.

The numbers and the message to policymakers speak very clearly: Rural Hoosiers are ready for all workplaces, including bars, to be smoke free. This new survey data measuring support for a comprehensive smoke-free workplace law shows that people in rural communities in Indiana overwhelmingly support a smoke-free law that protects all workers, just like people in the rest of Indiana. We value the lives of our workers -- who are also our neighbors, friends and family -- as much as people in any of the dozen Indiana communities with a comprehensive smoke-free law or the majority of the states in the U.S. with comprehensive statewide smoke-free laws.

The survey also found that, on average, 85 of rural Hoosiers believe that workers should be protected from secondhand smoke exposure in all workplaces, with even 60% of current smokers in agreement.

Survey research, released Oct. 7 by IRHA, examined public opinions about smoke-free policies in representative rural communities as part of the Indiana Collaborative for Healthier Rural Communities project spearheaded by IRHA.

"People in rural Indiana definitely support comprehensive smoke-free workplace laws because they are exactly the kind of common sense Hoosier value we find in rural Indiana. People shouldn't have to suffer harm caused by someone else's tobacco use," Don Kelso, IRHA Executive Director, says. "Rural Hoosiers just want to do their jobs and provide for their families, and they should not have to risk having their lives cut short or health jeopardized by this preventable health threat."

Secondhand smoke is proven to be a serious health risk. In 2006, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a conclusive report that says secondhand smoke causes heart disease, lung cancer and other respiratory problems. The 2006 report says that even the most advanced state-of-the-art ventilation or filtration, smoking rooms and separation of smokers and nonsmokers cannot eliminate the health risk caused by secondhand smoke. The report also found that even brief exposure is proven to be harmful and that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

The survey showed that over half (53% ) of rural adult Hoosiers would continue to eat out as often as they do now if all establishments were smoke free and 31% said they would eat out more often. Only 15% said they would eat out less.

Nancy Cummings

Greene County Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Coordinator

Bloomfield

Thank you for helping in time of need

To the Editor:

Thank you for all the delicious food, beautiful cards, love, phone calls, and the many prayers for us while Ardath was a patient at Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes during the month of September.

This past month has been a busy one, even after being dismissed, we went each day to complete the IV series for the infection.

Most importantly we are grateful for the many prayers given on her behalf for her good health to return.

All this cannot ever be repaid, but we want you to know everything was truly appreciated, and we wouldn't be this far along in recovery without your prayers.

In God's love,

Laverne and Ardath Roudebush

Lyons