Fifth graders talk about effects of tobacco
Great American Smoke Out is Nov. 20
Staff reporter
Kim Hall, MD, Marion family physician, presented a program Tuesday afternoon about tobacco to Marion Elementary School fifth graders.
The Tar Wars Program, sponsored by the American Academy of Family Physicians is a part of the Great American Smoke Out campaign.
Tar Wars is a national program for fourth and fifth grade students that focuses on the short term effects of tobacco use.
"Students are more concerned about how using tobacco will effect them now, not 20 years from now," said Marina Spexarth, Kansas Tar Wars coordinator. "The program focuses on the short term effects of tobacco use such as yellow teeth and smelly clothes."
The fifth graders were asked to guess the percentage of students their age, ninth grade students, and adults smoke.
The fifth graders came up with various percentages for their age group ranging from 0 to 36 percent.
The actual percentage of fifth graders who smoke (nationwide) is three percent.
For the ninth-grade age group, the fifth graders thought that 17 to 100 percent of ninth graders smoke.
The actual national percentage of ninth graders who smoke is 28 percent.
The fifth graders thought between 50 percent and 90 percent of adults smoke.
The actual national percentage for adults is 23 percent.
Hall asked the students why they thought so many more smoked than actually do. Various reasons were given but the main reason, explained Hall, is because consumers see it so much on television, in movies, and through advertising.
"Smokers are the minority but you wouldn't know it from television and movies," said Hall.
Students were then given a small drinking straw and asked to hold their noses and breath through the straw.
A group of students were asked to stand and jump, while holding their noses and breathing through the straw.
Hall explained that this is what smoking feels like. Many students complained of not being able to breath and being uncomfortable.
Hall and the students discussed the short term and long term effects of smoking.
Short term effects are bad breath, yellow teeth, smell on clothing, tooth decay, feeling bad (poor health), and addiction.
Long term effects are lung, lip, and stomach cancer, an increased risk of stroke, and death.
Good reasons for not smoking, besides the health reasons, were the expense and the effect on other people.
The students decided that the expense of cigarettes, based on the average price of $4 a pack, could buy them expensive, fun things.
Students are asked to create a poster that expresses the positive effects of not using tobacco products. Each Kansas school may enter one poster to compete in the state contest. The poster entry deadline is April 20.
The first place state winner will receive $200 cash and a paid trip for the winner and a parent to attend the National Tar Wars Poster Contest in Washington, D.C. in July, donated by the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians Foundation. The second place winner will receive a Game Boy Advance, donated by the Wichita American Cancer Society, and the third place winner will receive a $50 Wal-Mart gift certificate.
