This post may contain affiliate links, and I will be compensated (at no extra cost to you) when you make a purchase by clicking on my links.
For over 40 years, the American Cancer Society has sponsored the Great American Smokeout on the third Thursday in November. In 2020, we’ll celebrate the event on November 19. I hope you’ll promote the Smokeout at your senior living community and help smokers quit once and for all.
Quitting smoking becomes especially urgent this year because of the pandemic. Lung damage resulting from smoking makes people more likely to develop symptomatic COVID-19, and the outcome is often worse for people who smoke. (You can learn more in this article from the University of California.)
Your co-workers may say they’ve tried and failed to quit before, so they have no interest in the Great American Smokeout. Let them know that, according to the CDC, the average person tries to quit between eight and eleven times before they succeed. This just may be the event they need to become successful!
As I researched this topic, I wondered if the Great American Smokeout truly helps people stop smoking or if it’s a lot of hype. Yes, I learned that it does make a significant difference. You can read the details in this article from WQAD.
The first step is to create a team (preferably people from several departments) and plan your event. These 16 ideas will get you started:
1. Prepare for the Smokeout at least two weeks in advance. Spark interest with posters, handouts, and other resources available from the American Cancer Society.
2. Pair up each smoker with a former smoker for the day. Encourage the smoker to contact their buddy for support when they’re craving a cigarette.
3. Ask employees who smoke to turn in their tobacco products at the beginning of their shift in return for a certificate for a free meal.
4. Give each employee a Smokeout sticker to wear on their uniform. Then co-workers and residents can offer extra support and encouragement throughout the shift.
5. Invite former smokers among your staff to write about their experiences with smoking. How did they get started? What effect did it have on their lives? How did they quit? Post their stories in the employee break room on November 19.
6. Print a certificate for every employee who gives up smoking for the day. Urge them to post it at home as a reminder that they can quit smoking by taking it one day at a time.
7. Provide extra support during breaks when employees would ordinarily smoke. You might:
- Get a group together for a walk.
- Offer snacks such as sunflower seeds, mints, popcorn, or carrot sticks.
- Set out crossword puzzles, adult coloring pages, or word searches to keep hands busy.
- Offer brief sessions in yoga, meditation, or breathing exercises.
8. Hold a prize drawing for all staff who give up smoking for the day. See if a local business will donate a Thanksgiving-themed prize like a turkey or holiday pies.
9. Encourage other employees to support smokers by giving up something else for the day. Options include soda, sweets, or gourmet coffee.
10. Provide stationary and encourage smokers to write a letter to their cigarettes. Include how smoking affects their finances, their health, and their relationships.
11. Encourage smokers to let family and friends know they’re taking part in the Smokeout. These people can provide extra support through phone calls, text messages, and emails—especially after the employee leaves work for the day.
12. Host a guest speaker to teach a lunch ‘n learn session for employees. Options include:
- A pharmacist to talk about nicotine replacement options such as patches or medications
- A dietician to share ways to prevent weight gain after quitting smoking
- A nurse practitioner to explain how smoking affects various parts of the body
- A dentist to talk about how tobacco products affect a person’s mouth and teeth
13. Invite your residents to offer tips for quitting smoking. Many of them probably smoked back in the days when people weren’t yet aware of the dangers of smoking.
14. Nonsmokers may not understand how difficult it is for a smoker to quit. Share these tips from the ACS to help nonsmokers support smokers as they work toward quitting.
15. Encourage smokers to donate the money they ordinarily would spend on cigarettes to a fund. Use the money to buy something special for your residents. Possibilities include a new item for resident activities or gifts for Christmas.
16. Be sure to provide resources to help employees continue their nonsmoking journey after the Great American Smokeout ends. You’ll find lots of excellent ideas at CDC.gov. Also, take advantage of programs provided by your employee healthcare plan or an employee assistance program.
What did I miss? Please share your suggestions for celebrating the Great American Smokeout!
Leave a Reply