Smoking is the number-one cause of premature death and a significant contributor to heart disease, lung disease and cancer. It is also the leading cause of fires, including fires that have claimed the lives of IAFF members. The good news is, some health benefits of quitting are immediate. The IAFF and Pfizer are working together to help the IAFF become the first smoke-free union in North America. This initiative to encourage IAFF members and their families to take on healthier lifestyles by quitting smoking includes:
Information on the health risks of smoking and the benefits of quitting
Tips on how friends and family can help a smoker quit
Information on how to encourage health insurance plans to make sure they cover smoking cessation
VIDEO:Message from IAFF General President Schaitberger Creating a Smoke-Free Union
VIDEO:Message from Pfizer CEO Jeff Kindler
A Mission to Help People Quit Smoking
Quick Facts:
Smoking causes $167 billion dollars in health-related economic losses every year in the United States.
Fires caused by smoking cost approximately $27 billion annually around the world.
A smoker pays about $17,500 more in lifetime medical costs than a non-smoker.
In a very large study of smokers in the US, the average years of potential life lost from smoking for male smokers was 13 years, and for female smokers was 14 years, with heavy smokers losing more years of life.
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