Burn Awareness Week:
Reduce Deaths In Home Fires By Quitting Smoking

NASHVILLE – According to the United States Fire Administration, almost 1,000 smokers and non-smokers are killed in home fires caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials every year. These fires and the associated deaths are preventable.

The Department of Health and the Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine are participating in Burn Awareness Week by reminding Tennesseans they can help prevent home fires by quitting smoking.

“In addition to the lives claimed every year by diseases caused by tobacco use, people die in fires caused by smoking, and these tragedies are preventable,” said Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN. “We urge all Tennesseans who use tobacco to start the quitting process, and to reach out to the QuitLine for the help that can lead them to success.”

The Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine offers personalized support for residents who want to quit smoking or other tobacco products by connecting them with trained quit coaches to guide them through the quitting process. Callers will receive ongoing professional coaching via individually scheduled calls with a quit coach personally assigned to them. This convenient and confidential service is free and available to Tennessee residents in both English and Spanish. The service is also available for the deaf and hard-of-hearing at TTY: 1-877-559-3816. QuitLine callers also have complimentary access to relapse prevention techniques, printed resource materials, information on nicotine replacement therapies and other services to aid in the quitting process.

The Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine (1-800-QUIT-NOW or 1-800-784-8669) is a statewide toll-free telephone tobacco cessation treatment program made possible through the Tennessee Department of Health. There is no charge to callers for services. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central time.

Burn Awareness Week, scheduled for February 7–13, 2010, is designed to provide an opportunity for safety educators to unite in sharing a common burn awareness and prevention message. This health observance is sponsored by Shriners Hospitals for Children. For more information, visit www.shrinershq.org/Hospitals/Burn_Awareness/.