The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout

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Great American Smokeout ® Messages and Content Did you know that tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States? Are you aware that each year smoking accounts for 438,000 premature deaths and that 38,000 nonsmokers die as a result of exposure to secondhand smoke (American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 2008)? Your organization can contribute to lowering the number of tobacco deaths by promoting the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout with a long-term plan to implement a smoke-free workplace policy.

Research shows that when the workplace implements a smoke-free policy, smokers are more likely to quit smoking. In addition, a smoke-free policy within your organization will send a clear message to employees and the community that you care about your employees 9 health and safety. Promote the Great American Smokeout within your organization: Brochures Brochures are available from your American Cancer Society.

Contact your Division or local staff Society liaison to place an order for Great American Smokeout brochures. Direct-mail Postcards If you provide the American Cancer Society Quitline® smoking cessation program to your employees, consider mailing out direct-mail postcards from the Society 9s print-on-demand service. Electronic Banners Your organization can ... more. less.

post the Great American Smokeout banner on your company intranet. This banner will link employees to the Great American Smokeout web page. Banners are available from your Society staff liaison Desktop Helpers Encourage staff to visit www.cancer.org/GreatAmericans to download the Quit Clock countdown to quitting desktop helper, or the Craving Stopper desktop helper once they 9ve quit. Both are helpful tools that can be placed on employees 9 desktops to support their quit attempt. continued > The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout Email Blasts Begin promoting the Great American Smokeout in the weeks before the event. " Send emails to all employees with email access in the weeks before the Great American Smokeout. " If employees do not have email access, print and distribute the emails to them. Consider the following distribution methods: 3 If a meeting is held before or after shift change, pass out printed email to all employees. 3 Post the email blast on a bulletin board, refrigerator, or vending machine in employee break rooms. Email Blast No. 1: Double Your Chances of Quitting Tobacco Email Blast No. 2: Quit Smoking for the Great American Smokeout Email Blast No. 3: Pick a Quit Day Email Blast No. 4: Suggestions for your Quit Day FightCancer.org users: Beginning November 1, 2008, FightCancer.org will link directly to the Great American Smokeout. A Great American Smokeout icon will be located on the left-hand side of the main page of FightCancer.org. Clicking on the icon will link you and your employees directly to the main page of the Great American Smokeout. Non-FightCancer.org users: Beginning November 1, 2008, you can log onto www.cancer.org/GreatAmericans. Newsletter Inserts " Five Keys for Quitting " Helping a Smoker Quit: Do 9s and Don 9ts " Great American Smokeout Quiz (Note: These newsletter inserts can also be used as email blasts.) continued > The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout Personal Testimonials Personal Testimonial: cI Did It! d There could be an advocate of the Great American Smokeout within your organization. Many people have quit using tobacco products and have been successful with their quit. Consider featuring these individuals in the company newsletter, via an email blast, on your company intranet, or on a sign posted on an easel outside designated smoking areas. Collect the following information: " Name " Numbers of years using tobacco products " Number of years without using tobacco products " Reasons for deciding to quit " Quit method " Challenges of quitting " Encouragements/coping strategies for getting through difficulties " Life after tobacco Recipes Most smokers are concerned about weight gain when quitting tobacco. These healthy recipes will give employees trying to quit something to do with their hands. The end result will be a healthy meal and a smoke-free day. The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout Workplace Activities Need ideas to make the Great American Smokeout successful and fun at your company? Try one or more of these ctried-and-true d methods: Adopt a smoker Encourage nonsmoking employees to cadopt a smoker. d The nonsmoking employee will commit to being available for the smoker trying to quit tobacco. Hold an informal signup breakfast for smokers and nonsmokers who have cadopted d a fellow employee. Department Competition Create a competition between departments or regional offices to collect the most ckept d pledges to quit smoking. Cold Turkey Feature a cCold Turkey d special on the company cafeteria menu and give cold turkey sandwiches to those who have pledged to quit for the day. Raffle a ccold turkey d for Thanksgiving to Great American Smokeout participants or hold a company drawing. Great American Smokeout Stations Set up Great American Smokeout stations where smokers can trade cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products for nicotine replacement therapies (e.g. gum, lozenges, or patches), chewing gum, carrot sticks, or lollipops. Incentives There 9s nothing like an incentive to help strengthen the motivation to quit. Offer a cash prize or gift card for smokers who quit on or before the Great American Smokeout (November 20, 2008) and remain smoke-free for six months or one year. If your budget is tight, enter all names into a drawing for a single prize. Interactive Quizzes Lead up to the Great American Smokeout by hosting a trivia competition before the event. Use the questions from the interactive quizzes. Empathy Pledge Ask nonsmokers to give up something to empathize with smokers. Design pledge cards for nonsmokers so they can indicate what they will give up, such as coffee, chocolate, or soft drinks. On-site Health Activities Consider making the Great American Smokeout part of an employee health promotion or wellness program. Arrange for blood pressure screenings, fitness activities, and healthy diet counseling for smokers trying to quit and for nonsmokers. The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout Email Blasts We suggest communicating with your employees leading up to the Great American Smokeout. These email blasts can also be used as newsletter inserts. Email Blast No. 1: Double Your Chances of Quitting Tobacco Quitting smoking isn 9t easy, but it is a fight you can win. By using at least one of the ways listed below for your quit attempt, you can double your chances of being successful. By using more than one of the ideas, you increase your chances of staying quit for good! Self-help materials are available to help you quit smoking, no matter where you are in the process. These materials can help you learn how to prepare for your quit attempt, develop strategies to help with cravings, and prevent relapse once you have quit. The self-help materials offer proven methods that are easy to follow and can keep your motivation high. Support programs can be in a variety of forms 3 group smoking cessation programs, Internet resources, referral programs, or support groups. To learn about the options available in your community, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or www.cancer.org. Telephone counseling is a proven, confidential counseling method completed by telephone that will support and help you stay focused on your reasons for quitting. Medication: Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can relieve many of the nicotine withdrawal symptoms that occur when a person stops smoking. Prescription medicines like bupropion (Zyban®) and varenicline (Chantix®) also can help you quit. Using medication can double your chance of successfully quitting. Talk to your doctor about a strategy that might work for you. November 20 is the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout®. Set a quit date and stick to it 3 the American Cancer Society can help. continued > The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout Email Blast No. 2: Quit Smoking for the Great American Smokeout Are you planning to quit smoking for the Great American Smokeout? Here are some steps to help you prepare for your Quit Day: " Pick the date and mark it on your calendar. " Tell friends and family about your Quit Day. " Get rid of all the cigarettes and ashtrays in your home, car, and place of work. " Stock up on oral substitutes 3 sugarless gum, carrot sticks, and/or hard candy. " Decide on a plan. Will you use NRT or other medicines? Will you attend a stop-smoking class? If so, sign up now. " Practice saying, cNo thank you, I don 9t smoke. d " Set up a support system. This could be a group class, Nicotine Anonymous, or a friend or family member who has successfully quit and is willing to help you. Ask family and friends who still smoke not to smoke around you or leave cigarettes out where you can see them. " Think back to your past attempts to quit. Try to figure out what worked and what did not work for you. November 20 is the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout®. Set a quit date and stick to it 3 the American Cancer Society can help. Email Blast No. 3: Pick a Quit Day Once you 9ve decided to quit smoking, you 9re ready to pick a quit date. This is a very important step. Pick a specific day within the next month as your Quit Day. Picking a date too far in the future allows you time to rationalize and change your mind. But do give yourself enough time to prepare and come up with a plan. You might choose a date with a special meaning like a birthday or anniversary, or the date of the Great American Smokeout (the third Thursday in November each year; this year it 9s November 20, 2008). Or, you may want to just pick a random date. Circle the date on your calendar. Make a strong, personal commitment to quit on that day. There is no one right way to quit. Quitting smoking is a lot like losing weight; it takes a strong commitment over a long time. Smokers may wish there was a magic bullet 3 a pill or method that would make quitting painless and easy. But there is nothing like that. Nicotine substitutes can help reduce withdrawal symptoms, but they are most effective when used as part of a stop-smoking plan that addresses both the physical and psychological components of quitting smoking. November 20 is the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout®. Set a quit date and stick to it 3 the American Cancer Society can help. continued > The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout Email Blast No. 4: Suggestions for Your Quit Day Successfully quitting smoking is a matter of planning and commitment, not luck. Decide now on your own plan. Some options include using nicotine replacement, joining a stop-smoking class, going to Nicotine Anonymous meetings, and using self-help materials, such as books and pamphlets, or any combination of these methods. For the best chance at success, your plan should include one or more of these options. On your Quit Day, follow these suggestions: " Do not smoke. This means at all 3 not even one puff! " Keep active 3 try walking, exercising, or doing other activities or hobbies. " Drink lots of water and juices. " Begin using nicotine replacement if that is your choice. " Attend stop-smoking class or start following a self-help plan. " Avoid situations where the urge to smoke is strong. " Reduce or avoid alcohol. " Think about changing your routine. Use a different route to work, drink tea instead of coffee. Eat breakfast in a different place or eat different foods. November 20 is the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout®. Set a quit date and stick to it 3 the American Cancer Society can help. The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout Newsletter Inserts These newsletter inserts can also be used as email blasts. Newsletter Insert No. 1: Five Keys for Quitting 1. Get Ready " Set a quit date. " Change your environment. " Get rid of ALL cigarettes and ashtrays in your home, car, and place of work. " Don 9t let people smoke in your home. " Review your past attempts to quit. Think about what worked and what did not. " Once you quit, don 9t smoke 3 NOT EVEN A PUFF! 2. Get Support and Encouragement " Studies have shown that you have a better chance of being successful if you have help. " Tell your family, friends, and coworkers that you are going to quit and want their support. " Ask them not to smoke around you, and ask them to put their cigarettes out of sight. " Talk to your health care provider (for example, doctor, dentist, nurse, pharmacist, psychologist, or smoking counselor). " Get individual, group, or telephone counseling. Programs are given at local hospitals and health centers. Call 1-800-227-2345 for information about programs in your area. 3. Learn New Skills and Behaviors " Try to distract yourself from urges to smoke. Talk to someone, go for a walk, or get busy with a task. " When you first try to quit, change your routine. For example, use a different route to work. " Do something to reduce your stress. Take a hot bath, exercise, or read a book. " Plan something enjoyable to do every day. " Drink a lot of water and other fluids. 4. Get Medication and Use It Correctly Medications can help you stop smoking and lessen the urge to smoke. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved medications to help you quit smoking: Ask your health care provider for advice and carefully read the information on the package. continued > Available by prescription Bupropion SR (Zyban®) Varenicline (Chantix®) Nicotine inhaler Nicotine nasal spray Available over the counter Nicotine gum Nicotine lozenge Available by prescription and over the counter Nicotine patch The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout 5. Be Prepared for a Relapse or Difficult Situations Most relapses occur within the first three months after quitting. Don 9t be discouraged if you start smoking again. Remember, most people try several times before they finally quit for good. Here are some difficult situations to watch for: " Alcohol 3 Avoid drinking alcohol. Drinking lowers your chances of success. " Other smokers 3 Being around smoking can make you want to smoke. " Weight gain 3 Many smokers will gain weight when they quit, usually fewer than 10 pounds. Eat a healthy diet and stay active. Don 9t let weight gain distract you from your main goal 3 quitting smoking. Some quit- smoking medications may help delay weight gain. " Bad mood or depression 3 There are a lot of ways to improve your mood other than smoking. If you are having problems with any of these situations, talk to your doctor or other health care provider or call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345. Newsletter Insert No. 2: Helping a Smoker Quit: Do 9s and Don 9ts General Hints for Friends and Family " Do respect that the quitter is in charge. This is his/her lifestyle change and his/her challenge, not yours. " Do ask the person whether he wants you to call or visit regularly to see how he is doing. Let the person know that it 9s OK to call you whenever he needs to hear encouraging words. " Do help the quitter get what he needs, such as hard candy to suck on, straws to chew on, and fresh veggies cut up and kept cold in the refrigerator. " Do spend time doing things with the quitter to keep his mind off smoking 3 go to the movies, take a walk to get past a craving (what many call a cnicotine fit d), or take a bike ride together. " Do help the quitter with a few chores, some child care, cooking 3 whatever will help lighten the stress of quitting. " Do celebrate along the way. Quitting smoking is a BIG DEAL! " Don 9t take the quitter 9s grumpiness personally during his nicotine withdrawal. The symptoms usually pass in about two weeks. " Don 9t offer advice. Just ask how you can help with the plan or program he is using. If Your Smoker cSlips d " Don 9t assume that he will start back smoking like before. A cslip d (taking a puff or smoking a cigarette or two) is pretty common when a person is quitting. " Do remind the quitter how long he went without a cigarette before the slip. " Do help the quitter remember all the reasons he wanted to quit, and forget about the slip as soon as possible. " Don 9t scold, nag, or make the quitter feel guilty. Be sure the quitter knows that you care about him whether or not he smokes. continued > The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout If Your Smoker Relapses Research shows that most people try to quit smoking five to seven times before they succeed. If a relapse happens, think of it as practice for the time he will succeed. Don 9t give up your efforts to encourage and support your loved one. If the person you care about fails to quit: " Do praise him for trying to quit, and for whatever length of time (days, weeks, or months) of not smoking. " Do encourage him to try again. Don 9t say, cIf you try again ... d Say, cWhen you try again... d Studies show that most people who don 9t succeed in quitting are ready to try again in the near future. " Do encourage him to learn from the attempt. Things a person learns from a failed attempt to quit may help him be successful in a future attempt. It takes time and skills to learn to be a nonsmoker. " Do say, cIt 9s normal to not succeed the first time you try to quit. Most people understand this, and know that they have to try to quit again. You didn 9t smoke for two whole weeks this time. You got through the worst part. Now you know you can do that much. Now that you know you can get through the worst part, you can get even further next time. d If You Are a Smoker " Do smoke outside and always away from the quitter. " Do keep your cigarettes and lighter out of sight. They might be triggers for your loved one to smoke. " Don 9t ever offer the quitter a smoke, even as a joke! " Do join your friend in his effort to quit. It 9s better for your health and might be easier to do with someone else who is trying to quit! For more information, contact the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org/GreatAmericans or call 1-800-ACS-2345. The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout American Cancer Society Programs & Services More than 70 percent of adult smokers say they want to quit, but only 5 to 10 percent are successful on any given attempt. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has quantified that for every tobacco user a company helps to quit, the employer will decrease health care costs by $2,325 (phased in over a period of four years). They will also realize an improvement in productivity that produces annual savings of $1,162 per quitter. This amounts to a total return of $3,487 per quitter. Give employees who smoke an opportunity to improve their health and reduce their risk of serious illness. Here are additional resources available through the American Cancer Society: American Cancer Society Quitline ® Service Quitline is a telephone-based program that has helped thousands of people double their chances of quitting for good. This clinically proven counseling program also provides self-help materials, referrals to community programs, and nicotine replacement therapy options. As the nation 9s oldest health-based nonprofit organization, the American Cancer Society is able to provide Quitline services on a cost-recovery basis with no minimum monthly, quarterly, or annual service levels. Our service is scientifically proven to be effective, and we continue to have the highest reported quit rates in the industry. Contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org to learn more. American Cancer Society Freshstart ® Program Freshstart is a pragmatic approach to quitting smoking that focuses on active participation and group support. To implement the facilitator-based program within your organization, a company representative needs to complete a Freshstart facilitator training program. Upon completion of the training process, the company representative is responsible for promoting and leading employees within the organization through each group Freshstart session. Learn more at http://www.acsworkplacesolutions.com/FreshStartFacilitator.asp. Personal Testimonials The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout Personal Testimonial: cI Did It! d There could be an advocate of the Great American Smokeout within your organization. Many people have quit using tobacco products for good. Consider featuring these individuals in the company newsletter, via an email blast, on your company intranet, or on a sign posted on an easel outside designated smoking areas. Collect the following information: " Name " Numbers of years using tobacco products " Number of years without using tobacco products " Reasons for deciding to quit " Quit method " Challenges of quitting " Encouragements/coping strategies for getting through difficulties " Life after tobacco The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout Great American Smokeout Quiz Test your knowledge of the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout, the progress we 9ve made in the fight against tobacco, the statistics for lung cancer incidence and death rates, and the benefits of quitting smoking. The American Cancer Society is celebrating 32 years of inspiring smokers to quit. The Society inaugurated its first Great American Smokeout in 1976 as a way to inspire and encourage smokers to quit for one day. 1. ___states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have passed laws that protect nonsmokers by prohibiting smoking in workplaces and/or restaurants. a. 17 b. 23 c. 29. d. 42 Answer: C 3 29 states 2. True or false? Thirty years ago, smoking was legal in public buildings and enclosed places, such as offices, movie theaters, and domestic airline flights. Answer: True 3. True or false? Lung cancer incidence and death rates have declined in men and stabilized in women. Answer: True 4. Within ____after quitting, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal. a. 12 hours b. 24 hours c. 36 hours d. 48 hours Answer: A 3 Within 12 hours after quitting, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal. 5. True or false? In June 2006, the US Surgeon General reported that an estimated 126 million Americans are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes and workplaces, and that moderate levels of exposure to secondhand smoke are safe. Answer: False 3 The Surgeon General of the United States reported in June 2006 that an estimated 126 million Americans are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes and workplaces, and that no level of exposure to secondhand smoke is safe. continued > The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout 6. In one year, an ex-smoker will have saved more than $____ if he spent $4 per pack of cigarettes and smoked one pack every day. a. $800 b. $1,000 c. $1,400 d. $2,000 Answer: C 3 In one year, an ex-smoker will have saved more than $1,400 if he spent $4 per pack and smoked one pack per day. 7. Cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless and pipe tobacco consist of dried tobacco leaves, as well as ingredients added for flavor and other properties. More than 4,000 individual compounds have been identified in tobacco and tobacco smoke. Among those 4,000 individual ingredients, more than _____ compounds are known carcinogens (cancer-causing agents). a. 60 b. 90 c. 120 d. 400 Answer: A 3 60 8. In the United States, tobacco use is responsible for nearly ___ in ____ deaths. a. 1 in 5 b. 2 in 5 c. 1 in 3 d. 1 in 2 Answer: A 3 In the United States, tobacco use is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths; this amounts to an estimated 438,000 deaths each year. 9. True or false? Half of all Americans who continue to smoke will die from smoking-related diseases. Answer: True 3 On average, smoking reduces life expectancy by approximately 14 years. Smokers who quit before age 50 cut their risk of dying in the next 15 years in half, compared to those who continue to smoke. 10. What remains the most preventable cause of death in our society? a. Car crashes b. Drownings c. Fires d. Smoking-related diseases Answer: D 3 Since the first US Surgeon General 9s report on smoking and health was published in 1964, there have been more than 12 million premature deaths attributable to smoking in the United States. The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout Recipe: Grilled Baja-Style Fish Tacos Ingredients: Directions: In a shallow plate, combine oil and 1 tablespoon lime juice. Add fish, turning to coat, and marinate for 15 minutes. Preheat a lightly oiled grill to medium-high. Remove fish from marinade and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill fish for 4 to 7 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Remove from grill and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing into 1/3- to 1/2-inch-thick pieces. Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine cilantro, sour cream, mayonnaise, jalapeño, and the remaining 1 tablespoon lime juice. Wrap the tortillas in a damp paper towel and warm in the microwave on HIGH for 15 to 30 seconds. Top each tortilla with cabbage, sour cream mixture, and fish. Sprinkle with tomatoes. Serves 4 Prep Time: 30 min. or less, incl. marinating Total Time: 45 min. or less Per Serving Reprinted, with permission, from the American Cancer Society. The Great American Eat-Right Cookbook . Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society; 2007, www.cancer.org/bookstore. Calories 350 Calories from Fat 135 Total Fat 15.0 g Saturated Fat 3.6 g Trans Fat 0.0 g Polyunsaturated Fat 4.8 g Monounsaturated Fat 5.4 g Cholesterol 55 mg Sodium 270 mg Total Carbohydrate 27 g Dietary Fiber 4 g Sugars 4 g Protein 27 g " 1 tablespoon olive oil " 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, divided " 1 pound swordfish steak or other hearty white fish fillets (such as halibut or cod) " Salt and freshly ground black pepper " 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro " 1/4 cup reduced 3fat or regular sour cream " 1/4 cup good-quality light mayonnaise, such as Hellmann 9s " 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped " 8 (6-inch) corn tortillas " 1 cup shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix " 1 tomato, chopped 1.800.ACS.2345 www.cancer.org Hope.Progress.Answers. ® © 2008, American Cancer Society, Inc. No.007581

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