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Mayors Support Carroll County Children by Signing Smoke-Free Parks, Playgrounds Resolutions

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The Carroll County Health Council and Carroll County Health Department kicked off the Carroll County Smoke-Free Parks and Playgrounds Initiative on Tuesday, January 22, 2019, at Mallard’s in Huntingdon. Mayors from each of the eight incorporated towns were invited to participate in this latest initiative to promote healthier lifestyles and protect the health of our children.
The Tennessee Department of Health reports the Big Four Health Risks for Tennessee are Healthy Weight, Physical Inactivity, Tobacco, and Substance Misuse. The Health Council and Health Department have partnered since 2014 to address three focus areas to reduce tobacco use and exposure in Carroll County. They are smoking cessation among pregnant women, preventing youth from beginning tobacco use, and eliminating exposure to secondhand smoke, especially in children. To address these issues, Carroll County has offered the Baby & Me, Tobacco Free smoking cessation classes to pregnant women who smoke since June of 2014. The Teen Health Councils have increased their tobacco and nicotine (including vaping, juuling, and any electronic nicotine delivery systems {ENDS}) education to their peers, especially in grades 7 through 12.
The Teen Health Councils have also made presentations to school boards, town councils, and organizations regarding tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure.   Two of the county’s five special school districts – Huntingdon and Clarksburg have passed 100 percent tobacco/smoke-free campus and property policies. And, our mayors and other elected officials are promoting smoke-free public spaces.

Members of the Clarksburg Teen Health Council performed The Story of Samantha Skunk and How She Loved Her O’s for the forty mayors and health council members participating in the kick-off.
The mayors from Atwood, Clarksburg, Hollow Rock, Huntingdon, McLemoresville and Trezevant signed resolutions Tuesday discouraging use of any nicotine products, including ENDS in all parks and playgrounds owned, operated, or leased by the towns.  
Health Council Chair Rita Foster stated, “We are very fortunate to live in this Carroll County where our elected officials take the lead in promoting the health and welfare of our citizens, especially our children.” Carroll County Health Department Public Health Educator Barbara Kelly announced the Health Council and the Health Department would provide each of the towns a park bench in addition to the KIDS BREATHING Thank You For Not Smoking signs and posts for the parks and playgrounds in each of the towns. Randy Crossett and the Town of Huntingdon Public Works Department were recognized for assembling and storing the benches until they could be distributed.

Carroll County, Mayors, Parks, Playgrounds