Swan Hill District Health is a Smoke-Free and Vape-Free health service providing healthy environments for staff, visitors, clients, individuals in care, residents, contractors, students and volunteers.
What does Smoke-Free & Vape-Free mean?
This means smoking, vaping and the use of any tobacco products are not permitted on the grounds of our health service. This also includes all buildings, entrances, benches and carparks applicable to Swan Hill District Health sites:
Why is SHDH smoke and vape free?
Our health service is committed to providing safe, healthy environments for everyone.
Exposure to smoke from tobacco products and aerosol from vaping is harmful, especially for those who are unwell and/or vulnerable.
A smoke-free and vape-free environment helps reduce complications, supports healing, helps others in their quit journey and protects the health of our community.
How we can help
SHDH recognises that a hospital stay can be an opportunity for people to reduce or quit smoking and vaping. Our staff can:
· Provide Nicotine Replacement Therapy to help with withdrawals
· Help you make a plan to manage your smoking and/or vaping cravings
· Help refer you to quit supports
Please ask our staff for advice and support.
Smoking or vaping at SHDH
By law, smoking and vaping is banned within four metres of an entrance to any public hospital or registered community health centre in Victoria. If you intend to smoke or vape, you are required to leave SHDH grounds. Family and friends can assist you to go outside if required. To protect others please;
· Ensure smoke and/or aerosol is not blowing onto other people
· Cover clothing with a jacket while smoking or vaping
· Remove jacket and wash hands when returning to the health service
Please be aware that our staff cannot assist you to go outside to smoke.
What is Nicotine Replacement Therapy?
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a form of medication that provides nicotine to the body to help reduce withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit smoking and/or vaping.
It is available in products such as patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers and sprays, which deliver nicotine without the other harmful chemicals found in tobacco.
NRT can be used with counselling to significantly increase the chances of quitting successfully.
The health benefits of quitting smoking
Good news! As soon as you stop smoking your body begins to repair.
Within 6 hours
· Your heart rate slows and blood pressure becomes more stable
Within a day
· Oxygen can reach your heart and muscles more easily
· Your hands become steadier and fingertips warmer
Within a week
· Your sense of smell and taste improve
· You have higher levels of protective antioxidants such as vitamin C
Within 3 months
· You cough and wheeze less
· Your blood is less thick and sticky and blood flow to hands and feet improve
· Your immune system begins to recover so your body is better at fighting infection
Reducing or quitting smoking and vaping reduces the length of time needed for recovery.
Information sourced from Quitline.com.au
Available Support
Quitline
For free and confidential support contact Quitline.
Phone:13 78 48
Web: www.quit.org.au
Hours: 8am—8pm Monday—Friday
10am—5pm Saturday
Download the My QuitBuddy app
The My QuitBuddy is an app that helps you get, and stay, smoke-free and vape-free. It provides helpful tips to overcome cravings and tracking systems to chart your progress. My QuitBuddy gives you the facts you need to understand the impacts smoking and vaping have on your health.
SHDH Community Rehabilitation Centre – Respiratory Nurse
Need help navigating cessation support? Have a chat with our local respiratory nurse!
Address: Cr Splatt & McCrae Street, Swan Hill
Phone: (03) 5033 9321
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://www.shdh.org.au/our-services/community-rehabilitation-centre/
Give Up For Good
The ‘Give Up For Good’ campaign is an Australian Government health initiative aimed at helping people quit smoking and vaping in the long term. For more information head to:
Keep at Quitting
Keep at Quitting was developed as part of the national ‘Give Up For Good’ campaign. The campaign encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people trying to quit smoking to persevere on their quitting journey and drives awareness of the support available to them for smoking, as well as vaping, cessation.
Keep at Quitting|Give Up for Good|Australian Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Smoke-free and Vape-Free at SHDH
