Virginia's new smoking ban takes effect today and EMS could see fewer calls because of it

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It is difficult to believe that a state whose economy once revolved around tobacco instituted a statewide ban on smoking in restaurants, but that is now the reality here in Virginia.  Today, December 1, 2009, is the start of a new era, one with fresher air, and fewer heart attacks and respiratory problems.  It was established decades ago that smoking is bad for your health but the impact of secondhand smoke is still underrated by some.  While the more libertarian-minded people may not like being told where they can and cannot smoke, it is undeniable that public smoking bans are a public health win.  And any improvement in public health is also a win for EMS in the way of fewer chest pain and difficulty breathing patients.

"Excuse me, I ordered a Zima, NOT emphysema!" exclaimed a patron after Selma lit up in a trendy restaurant in The Simpsons episode "A Fish Called Selma."  That line was probably meant more as a dig at Zima than as a public health statement but those writers were onto something.  Two studies published in September have shown the dramatic effect that public smoking bans have had on heart health.  According to a CNN.com article by Theresa Tamkins, the studies report an average of 17 percent fewer heart attacks in the year after a smoking ban was instituted.  Each year after that, the cities saw a 26 percent drop in the number of heart attacks.  Time will tell if smoking bans will have a similar effect on respiratory problems, but the smart money would be that they will.  It is already well-known that asthmatics exposed to secondhand smoke have more frequent and more severe attacks than those who are not.

So, what does this mean for Virginia EMS?  Well, for the providers that smoke, it will be an inconvenience, but overall it will mean a drop in the number of cardiac and respiratory patients.  The number will decrease every year from here on and no one can argue with the positive effects that has for everyone.

Source:

• Theresa Tamkins, "Big drop in heart attacks after smoking bans, studies say - CNN.com."  CNN.com

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