HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0942.019 2006-2008
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From: Allan & Faith Rossman [alfaith@hawaii.rr.com]
Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 1:57 PM
To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
Cc: Pete Hoffman; Stacy Higa; J Yoshimoto; Donald Ikeda; Dominic Yagong; Bob Jacobson;
Emily I. Naeole; Brenda Ford; Angel Pilago
Subject: Testimony for Bill 224
Attachments: Testimony Bill 244-Rossman.doc
Please accept the attached testimony for Bill 224. Mahalo.
Faith Rossman, RN, MN
Clinical Specialist
Kona Community Hospital
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2/4/2008
February 1, 2008
TO: Donald Ikeda, Chairperson
County Council Committee Members
Public Safety and Parks and Recreation Committee
FR: Faith Rossman, RN, MN, Clinical Specialist, Kona Community Hospital
RE: WRITTEN TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF BILL 224,
Relating To Smoking in Certain Places in the County of Hawaii
Public Hearing on Tuesday, February 5, 2008, 9:30 a.m.
Committee on Public Safety and Parks and Recreation
My Name is Faith Rossman and I am a member of the Breath Free - Make Tobacco History
organization in West Hawaii. 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.
As a nurse and community member I am a beach user, and I also use our parks frequently.
You already know that secondhand smoke has been proven to cause lung cancer and heart
disease, and has been linked to asthma and other serious respiratory problems. On June 27,
2006, the U.S. Surgeon General released its landmark report, The Health Consequences of
Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke. One of the report's major conclusions is that there is
no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
In addition the toxic litter of cigarette butts is harmful to children on our beaches and in our
pristine oceans. The majority of our society no longer uses tobacco; so allowing tobacco use at
our public parks and recreation areas sends a mixed message about government concern for
health issues. As a nurse I am acutely aware that:
• Cigarette butts are the number one litter problem we have on our beaches
• Children can be harmed when they step on cigarette butts that are improperly extinguished,
beside it being distasteful even if they are extinguished
• Ingesting cigarette butts is harmful to toddlers and our coastal birds
• Asthmatics and others with cardiopulmonary diseases must move if someone is smoking
around them at the beach
Last year, Kahalu'u Beach Park in Kona went smoke-free. We need to do the same for the rest
of the Big Island. Passing Bill 224 will make visiting all County parks and beaches a more
pleasurable experience for kama'aina and visitors alike.
Please protect the health of our people, the purity of our 'aina, and the safety of our keiki. The
County Council can prove it cares about public health by protecting it wherever possible,
including while people enjoy HawaiTs parks and beaches.
Please support Bill 224. Mahalo nui.
Sincerely,
Faith Rossman, RN, MN
73-1176 Kahuna A'o Road, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740-8470
808.325.0836
alfaithla7hawaii. rr. com