UK Center for Excellence in Rural Health Hosts Breathe Easy Perry County Partnership Exhibit
HAZARD, Ky. (Jan. 3, 2013) – The University of Kentucky Center for Excellence in Rural Health (CERH) hosted an informational exhibit by the Breathe Easy Perry County Partnership (BEPCP), a group formed in 2008 with a mission to educate the community and address secondhand smoke issues in Perry County.
“Receiving a community engagement mini-grant in 2012 from UK’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science (supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences UL1TR00017), has enabled us to increase our outreach efforts as well as work with the local media and social media to educate our community,” said Linda Napier, grassroots coordinator for BEPCP.
An indoor air quality study completed in 2008, “demonstrated that workers and patrons in Perry County hospitality venues are exposed to harmful levels of secondhand smoke, according the BEPCP Facebook page. On average, workers and patrons in Perry County were exposed to indoor air pollution levels approximately 3.2 times the National Ambient Air Quality Standard.”
“We have a growing list of businesses and agencies in Perry County that have opted to become smoke-free,” said Diane Kronemeyer, BECPC member and community liaison for UK CERH. BEPCP has provided Smoke-free Perry County window decals for businesses to display at entrances to inform employees and patrons of their commitment to clean indoor air.
BEPCP can provide speakers, educational materials and information about local smoking cessation resources. They can also share how to support the Smoke-Free Kentucky Coalition, a group whose aim is to pass a statewide smoke-free workplace law in the 2013 General Assembly.
“Given that southeastern Kentucky has especially high rates of cigarette smoking, chronic lung disease, lung cancer and heart disease, we realize the significance of BEPCP’s work at the grassroots level and we are eager to support their initiatives in any way we can to work toward positive change,” said Fran Feltner, UK CERH director.
For more information on BEPCP, visit them on Facebook, e-mail smokefreeperryco@yahoo.com, or call (606) 438-6210 or (606) 439-3557, extension 83585. For more information on UK’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science, visit them at http://www.ccts.uky.edu/
