Cochise County landlords encouraged to create smoke-free communities

COCHISE COUNTY, AZ (Tucson News Now) - Landlords who want to introduce smoke-free policies at their properties can get free help from Cochise Health & Social Services.

To mark World No Tobacco Day on May 31, the County is partnering with Arizona Smoke-Free Living Coalition (ASFL) to help landlords, and their tenants, create healthier environments.

"We can provide information and support to help landlords adopt smoke-free polices," said Cochise County Tobacco Prevention Health Educator Kendra Allen.

The theme of this year's World No Tobacco Day is "Tobacco and Heart Disease", with a focus on the link to cardiovascular diseases, and actions that can be taken to reduce the risks to heart health.

"Can secondhand smoke cause heart problems? For those living in apartment communities it's an important question, since up to 65 percent of air, including secondhand smoke, is shared within a building," said Allen. "Interestingly, there is a link between secondhand smoke and cardiovascular disease, which is why smoke-free policies are so important."

A 2016 survey of Arizona renters found that seven in 10 renters would choose to live in a smoke-free apartment community over one that allows smoking. And more than 40 percent of renters said they would be willing to pay a little more to live in a non-smoking environment.

Other benefits include reducing property damage, eliminating preventable causes of fire, and even reducing insurance premiums.

To learn more about what Cochise Health & Social Services and ASFL (www.AZSmokeFreeLiving.org) can do for you and your apartment community, contact Kendra Allen at kallen@cochise.az.govor Alexandra Rivera at arivera@cochise.az.gov

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