Igniting a Fire Under Secondhand Smoke
Smoking bans are becoming more and more common these days. Especially in areas outside of the South, smoking is looked down upon. In those places, the fact that secondhand smoke is harmful is widely known. There is now a group on Auburn’s campus dedicated to this cause.
Ignite Auburn was formed a year and a half ago and is growing steadily stronger. They are about to receive their permanent charter through the Student Government Association so that they can be a lasting fixture on Auburn’s campus. Not only does Ignite work to further education to the public about tobacco, it has two other main goals.
Ignite National, the organization through which the Auburn chapter was formed from, runs the cause of holding politicians accountable for their stance on tobacco issues. They urge them to make smart and responsible decisions about the public’s health. According to Ignite National’s Web site, “Ignite engages in local and statewide advocacy for tobacco policy change, pressures politicians to reject campaign contributions from tobacco companies and their interests, informs voters of tobacco issues in key election and coordinated national political efforts.� This seems to be a big job for college students.
Another one of Ignite Auburn’s main focus is the prevention of youth smoking. For the past two years, Ignite has held “Kick Butts Day� in the Auburn, Opelika area. Last year they threw a carnival at a local park and invited the children of Project Uplift, another organization located on Auburn’s campus similar to Big Brother Big Sister, and the entire community. It was a huge success with a radio station broadcasting live, the Auburn University cheerleaders performing, Aubie walking around and even firemen who were there to talk about the danger of fire cigarettes cause.
“We had a great time,� said Leah Huskey, Ignite Auburn’s vice president. “The kids not only learned the reasons they should stay smoke-free, but they also had a blast.�
Last year’s carnival also had games that were tobacco related and a pledge the children signed saying they would stay away from cigarettes. Local businesses also helped out by donating food, prizes and games. The members of Ignite feel it was a huge success.
This semester, Ignite Auburn is focusing on its fall campaign, Preventing Child Abuse. The fall campaign is decided upon by Ignite National and all the different chapters across the nation chose how they want to present it in their own communities. Currently, there are 15 chapters in the country.
“People who aren’t strong in their beliefs that secondhand smoke is very harmful may not agree with our new mission,� Huskey said. “If only everyone knew that at least 250 chemicals known to cause cancer are in secondhand smoke from cigarettes, things would be much different. We want to help those who don’t have a choice whether they breath in dangerous air or not, and that is children.�
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to cigarette smoke causes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Each year, 1,900 newborns die in the United States due to this fact. Ignite Auburn believes that it is child abuse to subject children to a harm like this. They relate it to the wearing of seatbelts. The government mandates the use of seatbelts because it has been proven children can be hurt without one. Ignite says the same principle applies to secondhand smoke with children in cars.
“Smoking inside a car with a window down still leaves the air as considered ‘hazardous’,� Huskey explained. “This air toxicity still qualifies as harmful for sensitive groups, which includes children.�
Ignite Auburn has a lot on their plate. If you would like to help them, please contact their president at Kylee@ignitegeneration.org. They also meet every month on the first Thursday at 5 p.m. in Foy 205.
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