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• Firefighters Extinguish Their Cigarettes for the American Cancer Society's 25th Annual Great American Smokeout 

As America looks to firefighters for help, support and leadership like never before, one fire department is initiating a new campaign that it hopes will catch on in cities across the nation.

Starting on November 15th, the date of the American Cancer Society's 25th annual Great American Smokeout(R), the Indianapolis, Indiana Fire Department (I.F.D.) will prohibit the use of all tobacco products in all 26 of its firehouses. Many firefighters will be giving up their cigarettes for at least a day, and hopefully for a lifetime. This unprecedented act is part of "Tobacco Free in I.F.D.," a groundbreaking program that Indianapolis' firefighters hope will help and inspire them, their colleagues and all Americans to quit smoking altogether.

"The goal of this effort is two-fold," said Louis Dezelan, Chief of the IFD. "Not only do we want to improve the health and quality of life of our firefighters, we also want to set a positive example for the community -- especially for those young people who look to firefighters as role models."

A recent survey commissioned by the American Cancer Society found that approximately one-third of all current smokers in the United States have started smoking more cigarettes since the tragic events of September 11th. However, 78 percent of those who have changed their smoking habits since September 11th indicated that they are interested in quitting smoking for good. "Tobacco Free in I.F.D." is designed to help firefighters do just that, by providing them with the tools necessary for a successful quit attempt. . .

As part of the "Tobacco Free in I.F.D." program, members of the I.F.D. and their spouses who are interested in quitting smoking can receive free smoking cessation counseling, and those who commit to quit for the Great American Smokeout will receive free Nicorette(R) and NicoDerm(R) CQ(R) starter kits from GlaxoSmithKline, providers of these stop smoking products.

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