HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0732.013 2008-2010Murashige, Laura (1Q�ll 731
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Attachments: Hawaii County Council Bill 216 ALAH Hilo office.doc
Aloha,
Please accept the attached written testimony in regards to Hawaii County Bill 216.
Thank you,
Sally Ancheta
American Lung Association in Hawaii
Hawaii Island Branch - Program Coordinator
39 Ululani Street
Hilo HI 96720
Office: 808 935 - 1206, Fax: 808 935 - 7474
e -mail: sancheta @ala- hawaii.org
Fighting for Air
4/6/2010
Sally Ancheta [SAncheta @ala- hawaii org]
Monday, April 05, 2010 2:37 PM
counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi us
Written Testimony for County Bil 216
Page 1 of 1
RICoujen.
?010 APR 6 R(1 7 9 6
COUN t CLERK
COUNTY i IF HAWAII
Ref. Tot
Coma r ? 3
Ref. Dote APR 0 7 2010
Hawaii
39 Ululani Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Tel (808) 935 -1206
Fax (808) 935 -7474
alahbi @ala- hawaii.org
Website:
www.ala - hawaii.orq
E -mail:
lung q{)ala- hawaii.orq
Lung HelpLine
1 -800- LUNG -USA
(5864872)
Improving Life
One Breath at a Time
Founded in 1904 the
American Lung Association
includes affiliated associations
throughout the U S.
Date: April 5, 2010
t AMERICAN
LUNG
ASSOCIATION..
IN HAWAII
Hawaii County Office
To: Chair J Yoshimoto, Vice Chair Emily I Naeole- Beason, and Members
of the Hawai'i County Council
Re: STRONG SUPPORT for Bill 216 (Comm. 732): An Ordinance
Amending Chapter 14, Article 4, Section 14 -21 of the Hawai'i County
Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as Amended), Relating to Prohibition of
Smoking in Certain Places (prohibits smoking in all motor vehicles if a
person under 18 years of age is in the motor vehicle)
For First Reading on April 7, 2010 at 9:00 a.m., Hawaii County Building,
before the full County Council
As the Hawaii Island program Coordinator for the American Lung Association in
Hawaii, I strongly support this measure prohibiting smoking in motor vehicles
with children under the age of 18.
Currently Hawaii County has the highest rates of children, who currently have
asthma, nearly 16 percent, county wide. In the Puna /Kau region that jumps to
20 percent of the children in the area are currently experiencing asthma
episodes'. Any exposure to smoke, especially, tobacco smoke, exasperates
the risk of an asthma episode. A child may experience an acute asthma
attack within 10 minutes of exposure to second hand smoke."
As we know, the drive to the Puna /Kau region to a major shopping community
area is longer than 10 minutes, every child in a car with a smoker is at risk,
and these child /children with asthma are at a great risk for an acute asthma
attack. Children who breathe secondhand smoke on a regular basis are at a
higher risk for middle ear infections. Exposure to secondhand smoke can
cause asthma in children who have never previously shown any symptoms.
Babies and children younger than age 6 who are exposed to secondhand
smoke regularly are more likely to get respiratory track infections, such as
pneumonia and bronchitis.
With Hawaii having the second highest children's asthma rate in the nation and
the added burden of the recent increase in vog, we are pleased to see that
Hawaii County is considering taking the lead in protecting the health of our
future adults. This is truly important step following the passage of smoke -free
county parks and beaches. We encourage you to pass Bill 216.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit this testimony.
Sincerely,
Sag e. Ackera
Sally C. Ancheta, Hawaii Island Program Coordinator
American Lung Association in Hawaii
Hawaii Asthma Plan 2006 -2010, Hawaii Asthma Initiative, Hawaii State Depart. Of
Health
The Perils of Second -Hand Smoke, EPA Video 1993.