Dothan’s parks are tobacco-free zones, but some people don’t know it.
Members of the Dothan-Houston County Substance Abuse Partnership’s youth council helped gather evidence at several city parks.
“When they took those cigarette butts to the mayor, it was an eye opener that there were that many butts actually around for them to pick up,” said Beth Ford, program manager and youth council coordinator for the partnership.
On Friday, the partnership unveiled the “Young Lungs At Play” signs that have been placed at six parks in Dothan: Kiwanis Park, Doug Tew, Hawk-Houston Boys and Girls Club, Newton Street, Webb Road and Eastgate Park.
The Alabama Department of Public Health was able to obtain the signs with a federal grant through the Centers for Disease Control.
The city already had some signs listing the rules at city parks, said Judy Guiler, tobacco prevention manager for the partnership, but the new signs are easier to spot.
“This blue sign is more visual, and people might actually stop and look at it,” Guiler said. “Hopefully, it will encourage them to think about the children, because we bring our children to a beautiful park to play and to get fresh air and to enjoy themselves, and when they come they’re stuck with having to breathe secondhand smoke from other people who are smoking in the area.”
Ford said the signs remind people about the existing city ordinance.
“We’re just trying to give the right to people who don’t use tobacco and to children, to have an area where they are not affected by it,” Ford said. “If someone wants to smoke, that is their right, that’s their choice, but those of us who don’t, and the children in these parks, would like to be in a smoke-free area for our health.”
A brochure provided by the partnership said secondhand smoke can cause ear and respiratory infections and other problems for children.
“A lot of children suffer from asthma,” Guiler said. “Secondhand smoke is the number one effect with asthma … that causes those attacks.”
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