The taste of death

The packaging is bright, colorful, and eye-catching. And with flavors like strawberry, peach, vanilla and chocolate, there is no denying candy-flavored tobacco’s appeal to teens. At times sold right next to the candy products children know and love, flavored cigars, tobacco leaves, smokeless tobacco, chew, snuff, snus, shisha, and dissolvable tobacco have become increasingly common inside convenience stores across the U.S.

According to a 2010 Florida Youth Tobacco Survey, one in five youths between the ages of 11 and 17 have tried flavored tobacco in Lake County. In an effort to raise awareness and take a stance against candy-flavored tobacco products, the Tobacco Free Partnership of Lake County (TFP) has made the commitment to inform the public about the dangers and marketing of these deadly products.

After being awarded a community-based intervention grant in 2009, Melaine Chin, the Lake County Health Department tobacco program manager, says the TFP joined a grassroots movement that is sweeping Florida to urge convenience stores across the state to restrict or stop the sale of candy-flavored tobacco in their stores. So far, both the Lake County Board of County Commissioners and the City of Clermont has joined forty-one counties and 126 municipalities that have passed resolutions urging local vendors to cease marketing of candy-flavored tobacco products.

Though these products may look harmless, they still carry the same health risks as regular cigarettes and tobacco products, such as heart disease, cancer, and lung disease. In addition, these products are as addictive as regular tobacco products and are not considered safe by the Food and Drug Administration. And while the tobacco industry denies using the lure of candy to target children, Chin staunchly disagrees, citing the flavors and styling of the packaging.

“A traditional 60-year-old cigar user doesn’t need a strawberry flavored cigar,” she says. “Ordinary people or parents may not notice these products inside a store because they are packaged to look like candy packaging, but it is tobacco that tastes and smells just like candy. The taste masks the harshness of tobacco, making it easier for youth to start using tobacco.”

Chin says children tend to think the smokeless, candy-flavored tobacco like snus and dip is safer than regular cigarettes since it doesn’t produce smoke. Plus, it is easier to conceal at school because it makes a person’s breath smell like candy instead of tobacco. Even parents searching their child’s backpack may not readily notice a candy-flavored tobacco product because it so closely resembles today’s popular candies.

To crackdown on candy tobacco use among youth, the TFP of Lake County is working closely with local schools and law officials to tighten enforcement against illegal tobacco use. Also, they urge parents to become more aware of these products so they can talk to their children.

For more information about candy-flavored tobacco, visit www.tobaccofreeflorida.com or call the Tobacco Free Partnership at 352.357.1668.

BLOOD TESTS: SNAPSHOTS OF OUR HEALTH

The Sunrise Rotary Club of Leesburg will provide its annual blood screening event February 16th at the Leesburg Community Building located at 109 E. Dixie Ave. The cost of the basic blood screening is $40. For an additional $25, men can also have a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.

Blood screening can help identify problems such as anemia, diabetes, liver disease, vascular disease, kidney disease, and other health problems. The profile of tests being offered includes cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL, LDL, glucose, potassium, and others. Funds generated are used for numerous community projects.

For more information, visit leesburgsunriserotary.org. ■

A helping hand

Florida Hospital Waterman is one of the first hospitals in Central Florida to offer the MAKOplasty partial knee resurfacing procedure. It is performed using the RIO Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic System, which is a surgeon-controlled robotic arm system that enables alignment and placement of implants. The technology assists joint replacement surgeons in preoperative planning and in treating each patient’s knee pathology uniquely and with ultimate precision.

Surgeons use the robotic arm during surgery to resurface the diseased portion of the knee while sparing the healthy surrounding bone and soft tissue, thus allowing for a more natural feeling knee. The partial knee resurfacing implant is then secured in the joint to allow the knee to move smoothly once again.

“We are proud to be among the first to use this innovative technology in our area,” says Ken Mattison, president and CEO of Florida Hospital Waterman. “It is part of our commitment to provide our community with the best healthcare possible.” ■

A strong addition

Bill Pfingsten has joined Central Florida Health Alliance as vice president of ambulatory services. In this role, he will oversee the development of high-quality, patient-centered, cost-effective, and integrated clinical programs at the hospital. He will also be responsible for integrating the strategic plan of the hospital’s ambulatory clinics within the overall operational structure.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Bill to our ambulatory services team,” says Don Henderson, president and chief executive officer of Central Florida Health Alliance. “He is a seasoned healthcare executive with a wide range of experience. We are confident he will provide strong leadership and help drive innovation to advance our already remarkable care.”

Pfingsten earned a Bachelor’s in Biology from Colorado State University and his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Montana. ■

Responding To An Emergency

In the past year, nearly 48,000 patients have visited the twenty-four-bed emergency department at Leesburg Regional Medical Center. To meet these increasing needs, the hospital foundation initiated a $2 million renovation campaign to transform the emergency department into a more efficient and contemporary facility.

Patient areas will be planned with designated space for family and friends. In fact, every aspect of the design has been created with input from staff, patients, and visitors — all with efficiency, safety, and comfort in mind.

“When the renovation project is completed, our emergency room will offer additional patient beds all surrounding a centralized work area, strategically placed supply and medication areas, a more comfortable and safe waiting area, and added patient privacy,” says LRMC Foundation President Ted Williams. “We are renovating not just a facility but the overall patient experience.” ■

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