Three city hospitals go smoke-free

Three Hartford hospitals will begin to enforce tobacco-free policies on their campuses beginning today.

As part of a campaign started by former Hartford Mayor Mike Peters to make "Hartford Healthier," Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford Hospital and Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center collaborated 8 months ago to establish a tobacco-free policy for all employees, patients and visitors on each campus.

The new policy means that any use of tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe smoking and snuff, will be prohibited by all employees, physicians, visitors, patients, volunteers, vendors and medical staff on any property owned by each institution. 

The prohibition applies to smoking in personal vehicles on the property, as well as in garages, on hospital walkways and all outdoor venues. 

Sidewalks adjacent to hospital campuses are also tobacco-free zones.

"The decision to eliminate the use of tobacco is intended to establish an example of wellness and disease prevention especially for our young patients, staff and the community," said Martin Gavin, president and CEO, Connecticut Children's Medical Center.