The campus of Long Beach Memorial (LBM) and Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach (MCHLB) became completely smoke-free on July 1. Now, no smoking is permitted on hospital property, including regions previously designated as “smoking areas.” LBM and MCHLB will be the first hospital sites in Long Beach to become entirely smoke-free.
“As a healthcare organization, LBM and MCHLB are committed to the health and safety of our patients, their families and our employees,” said Diana Hendel, CEO of LBM/MCHLB. “Tobacco use in and around hospitals poses health and safety risks. We believe that we have a responsibility to take a leadership role on this major health issue, and establishing our entire campus as tobacco-free firmly supports that belief.”
The US Surgeon General has confirmed that exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke is a serious health hazard and that there is no risk-free level of exposure. As such, patients, visitors and the community are asked to support the transition to a tobacco-free environment.
LBM and MCHLB will provide free cessation resource kits and suppressants for patients and visitors having difficult time with the smoke-free transition.
