With a non-smoking future in mind, Powell River Community Health’s new tobacco-reduction coordinator has ideas on how to build a healthier community.
In the position since mid-November, Nathan Jantz said he hopes to help facilitate more awareness about smoking harm and the importance of smoke-free environments by hanging “no smoking” signs near playgrounds and sports fields.
“Just increasing the signage will empower the community to feel like they have a voice in not getting people to smoke in certain areas,” said Jantz.
In Powell River, Jantz said in addition to smoking being prohibited within six metres of businesses and open-air intakes, current city bylaws prohibit smoking within six metres of playgrounds and play areas.
Jantz said he also hopes similar signs around Powell River General Hospital will help support the creation of a smoke-free environment around the hospital, which covers its parking lots and sidewalks.
“One of the heaviest smoking areas is at the bus stop in front of the hospital, just as you exit the main doors,” he said. “It is hard for people who work there and people who are addicted and staying at the hospital.”
Jantz said part of his job is getting hospital employees to help to keep the grounds smoke-free.
“In other cities with smoke-free areas, different employees volunteer their time to do things like checking the ground for cigarette butts and looking for places where people are smoking,” he said.
Although Powell River currently has two bylaw officers, Jantz said they are mainly concerned with parking enforcement and animal control, not smoking infractions.
“If we don’t want smoking in our community, we must communicate that,” he said. “Most people probably aren’t aware of the bylaws and their specifics.”
Vancouver Coastal Health employs Jantz and tobacco-reduction coordinators in Vancouver, Richmond, Sea to Sky and Sunshine Coast to raise public awareness about the risks of smoking and second-hand smoke.
Coordinators also support healthcare providers and educators with guidance on resources available to help those seeking to kick the habit.
“My job is to reduce the amount of smoking in our community,” said Jantz, “in and around the hospital, on hospital grounds and within the city.”
