Freeport Elementary School Students Join Senator Fuschillo In Saying "No" To Tobacco

Third and fourth graders from New Visions Elementary School in Freeport today learned about the dangers of tobacco from State Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (8th Senate District), author of New York State’s Clean Indoor Air Law.

"When tobacco companies look to attract new smokers, children are the number one target. We must teach children at a young age that smoking is a dangerous and deadly addiction, which is why it is so important to say ‘no’ to tobacco," said Senator Fuschillo, a member of the Senate’s Health Committee.

During the presentation, Senator Fuschillo gave the children a tobacco quiz which consisted of a series of true/false questions about the effects of smoking. This helped children learn some of the common facts about tobacco use. Senator Fuschillo also showed the children household products, such as rat poison, nail polish remover, ant & roach spray, moth balls, and batteries, that have some of the same chemicals found in tobacco.

At the end of the program, Senator Fuschillo gave "no smoking pledge packets" out to the students. The packets inform children about the harmful effects of smoking, and contain a pledge that they can sign along with their parents to promise to commit to a healthy, tobacco free lifestyle.

Youth smoking remains a serious problem in New York State. According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, almost 25,000 New York State children under the age of 18 become new daily smokers each year. In addition, children buy or smoke over 36 million packs of cigarettes each year in New York State alone.

Photo caption: Senator Fuschillo shows third and fourth graders from New Visions Elementary School that batteries contain some of the same chemical ingredients as cigarettes.

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