The City of York
Pennsylvania
101 South George Street PO Box 509 York PA 17405
www.yorkcity.org
Honorable C. Kim Bracey, Mayor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: MAYOR’S OFFICE
PHONE: 717-849-2221
Young Lungs at Play
Mayor Bracey is pleased to announce the City of York’s inclusion on the Honor Roll of the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s “Young Lungs at Play” program.
“Young Lungs at Play” is a program aimed to help communities create tobacco-free parks, playgrounds and recreational areas for children. Many Pennsylvania communities, including the City of York, have adopted outdoor tobacco-free policies at parks, athletic fields, playgrounds, and trails to help protect both children and the environment.
The Honor Roll recognizes the City of York’s participation in the growing number of Pennsylvania counties, municipalities, youth recreation organizations and school districts that have taken steps to safeguard children and families from the health and ecological consequences of tobacco use and litter.
In Pennsylvania, more than 858,000 young people are exposed to tobacco smoke pollution every day and the US Surgeon General has stated that there is no safe level of exposure, whether indoors or outdoors, and that children’s exposure to second-hand smoke causes increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome, lower respiratory infections, middle ear diseases, more severe asthma, respiratory symptoms and slowed lung growth and is responsible for the premature deaths of over 430,000 Americans each year from lung cancer, heart disease, respiratory illness and other diseases.
Additionally, secondhand smoke is responsible for over 50,000 deaths among nonsmokers each year, and tobacco kills more Americans each year than alcohol, cocaine, heroin, homicide, suicide, accidents, fire and AIDS combined.
“I urge residents to take part in the city’s efforts to help protect our children, residents and environment by serving as role models for a non-smoking atmosphere as part of the City of York’s ongoing effort to provide children, youth and their families with a safe, smoke-free environment”, said Mayor Bracey.
Be sure to look for “Young Lungs at Play” signs posted throughout our city parks, playgrounds and recreation centers! The “Young Lungs at Play” signs replace the current signs that are posted at our city parks, playgrounds and recreation centers prohibiting smoking.
To learn more about the “Young Lungs at Play,” Program, visit http://www.health.pa.gov/ and select My Health, Healthy Living, Smoke-Free Tobacco.
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