The CPPW project is also playing a major role in helping smokers kick the habit by providing onsite smoking cessation classes for St. Louis County companies with 50 or more workers. Freedman said he is very pleased with the strong, immediate response from companies interested in providing smoking cessation classes for their employees.
“This project is about making Saint Louis County a healthy place to live, work, and play”
Freedman said, “We started the classes last year in December with four companies and the numbers keep growing.” Freedman added that companies who are interested can still sign up for smoking cessation classes. All classes are being provided free of charge. Here are a few tips to help smokers quit: • Remove all cigarette related materials from your home, car and office. • Plan a new activity in place of smoking breaks. For example, take a brisk walk during the break. • Drink lots of water. • Take deep breaths since smoking urges can be intense during the first two weeks. • Delay reaching for a cigarette as long as you can because the urge will pass. Health educators also suggest switching and changing up activities. For example, coffee drinkers could switch to tea or juice. The Missouri Quitline is another great resource for smokers who are struggling to stay smoke free. The Quitline offers three levels of assistance including: information and consultation, one-on-one in-depth counseling, and intensive intervention. Participants must be Missouri residents and at least 18-years-old. For more information and help quitting smoking, please visit the Saint Louis County Department of Health’s website at www.stlouisco. com/doh, or call the Missouri Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (800-7848669) anytime between 7:00 a.m. and 11: 00 p.m.
Premier Issue 2011 — Greater St. Louis Area — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 23