COM 0942.012 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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February 1, 2008 To: Donald Ikeda, Chairperson County Council Committee Members Public Safety and Parks and Recreation Committee Fr: Russell Cummins Keaau High School Peer education Coordinator RE: WRITTEN TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF BILL 224, Relating To Smoking in Certain Places in the County of Hawai'i Public Hearing on Tuesday, February 5, 2008, 9:30 a.m. Committee on Public Safety and Parks and Recreation My name is Russell Cummins I am a Peer education Coordinator for Keaau High School, and I strongly support Bill 224, which would prohibit use of tobacco products at all County of Hawaii parks and beaches, effectively providing a clean and healthy environment for Hawaii's keiki, ohana, visitors and wildlife. I am a peer education coordinator for Keaau High school. I am a frequent beach user of this County. I support this Bill 224, because of the numerous negative affects that it has produced onto our County of Hawai'i. The peer education program at Keaau High School advocates for making healthy choices, this is one of our healthy choices by preserving our air quality. While using Richardson's Beach Park in Hilo, I stepped on a cigarette butt that burned my feet leaving me with 2"d degree burns and a blister. My Uncle Frank died from emphysema caused by a lifetime of smoking cigarettes. He would frequently take his nieces and nephews to the beach and expose us to harmful second hand smoke. In a single day our peer education program students collected about a'/2 gallon full of cigarettes, cigarette packs, and its waste that comes with it, such as books, lighter, cigars, etc. I have observed elementary age children finding cigarettes on the ground and putting it in their mouth. Either to act "cool" or to eat it, any way you look at it it's horrific. Last year, Kahalu'u Beach Park in Kona went smoke-free let's do the same for the rest of the island. Passing Bill 224 will make visiting all County parks and beaches a more pleasurable experience. In conclusion I support Bill 224 to continue my efforts of advocating healthy choices, by preserving our air quality. I want to have our beaches free from the litter of cigarettes and any associates to that product, which could result in injury to individuals and inhabitants alike. Having family members become affected by the harmful affects that tobacco has to the health of individuals. I do not want to continue to allow our children to be in danger of being exposed to second hand smoke, as well as dealing with the idea of an image that tobacco is the ideal thing to do. The Secondhand smoke is a known health and environmental hazard. The public's health should be protected wherever possible, including while enjoying Hawai'i`s parks and beaches.