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Smokefree Award for Ashfield Girls?’ School
By Derval Keenan, 2/2/2006 2:29:52 PM
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The Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) presented a certificate to Ashfield Girls?’ School for successfully introducing a smokefree environment within the school.
Ashfield Girls?’ School is the first school in Northern Ireland to be recognised and receive a smokefree certificate by UCF.
Clare Smith, Cancer Prevention Officer at UCF said, ?“This is a tremendous accolade for the school. Research has shown that most teenagers who smoke are encouraged to do so by a friend or someone their own age ?– so introducing a smokefree environment within the school can only have positive benefits. Also, if a young person can reach their late teens without smoking, then they are much less likely to ever smoke. Ashfield Girls?’ School should be congratulated for taking positive action to help protect the health and well being of its pupils.?”
Adeline Dinsmore, Principal of Ashfield Girls?’ School said, ?“We are delighted to receive the award. We subscribe to the Healthy Schools Initiative and we strongly believe that smoking within the school environment is not conducive to a healthy environment for pupils to learn.
?“Like most schools, we had a small but persistent number of pupils who smoked in the toilets, mainly between classes. After carrying out an audit, we discovered that 75% of pupils didn?’t like to use the toilets because of the smell of smoke. We believed that this was not acceptable for the majority of pupils and action needed to be taken.?”
The action came in the form of the installation of cigarette alarms ?– the first school in Northern Ireland to install them. Adeline Dinsmore explains, ?“The alarms detect low concentrations of cigarette smoke or the flame from a cigarette lighter. It also has a voice message alerting pupils that a teacher has been called to the toilets and instructing them to put out their cigarette immediately.
?“The results were astounding ?– from the day the alarms were installed, smoking in the toilets stopped. We carried out a further survey and found that 85% of pupils are now happier to use the toilets and 79% report an improved atmosphere.
?“We believe that we have an obligation to protect the health and safety of all our pupils which is why we have introduced a smokefree environment.?”
For further information or advice on introducing a smokefree environment within your school or workplace, please contact Clare Smith at UCF, Tel. 028 9049 2007.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Pauline Wylie, UCF
Tel. 028 9049 2007 / 07810 371118
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