THINKING ABOUT SMOKING.....

 

 DID YOU KNOW?

 

• SMOKING ACCOUNTS FOR 1/3 OF ALL HEART DISEASE DEATHS.
• THE TWO MOST DAMAGING CHEMICALS FOUND IN CIGARETTES ARE TAR AND NICOTINE.  THE MAJOR CANCER CAUSING CHEMICAL IN TOBACCO SMOKE IS TAR.  NICOTINE IS AS ADDICTIVE AS HEROIN OR COCAINE.
• THE RISK OF DEVELOPING CANCER IS TEN TIMES GREATER FOR SMOKERS THAN FOR NON SMOKERS.
• SMOKING CAUSES 85% OF ALL LUNG CANCER DEATHS, AND LUNG CANCER IS THE #1 KILLER IN WOMEN.
• PEOPLE WHO SMOKE ONE PACK OF CIGARETTES A DAY DECREASE THEIR LIFE EXPECTANCY BY ABOUT SIX YEARS.
• TOBACCO COMPANIES SPEND OVER $3 BILLION EVERY YEAR ON ADVERTISEMENTS THAT GLAMORIZE SMOKING.
• SMOKING HURTS YOUR LUNGS AND CAN CAUSE RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS SUCH AS EMPHYSEMA, BRONCHITIS, CHRONIC COUGHS AND A SORE THROAT.
• TOBACCO COMPANIES NEED TO RECRUIT 1,200 NEW SMOKERS EVERDAY TO REPLACE THOSE WHO HAVE DIED.

BE SMART....DON'T START

BIKE HELMET TIPS:

 

BIKE HELMETS ARE SO IMPORTANT THAT THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS CREATED SAFETY STANDARDS FOR THEM.  YOUR HELMET SHOULD HAVE A STICKER THAT SAYS IT MEETS STANDARDS SET BY THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION (CPSC).  IF YOUR HELMET DOESN'T HAVE A CPSC STICKER, ASK YOUR MOM OR DAD TO GET YOU ONE THAT DOES.

YOUR BIKE HELMET SHOULD FIT YOU PROPERLY.  YOU DON'T WANT IT TOO SMALL OR TOO BIG.  NEVER WEAR A HAT UNDER YOUR BIKE HELMET.  IF YOU'RE UNSURE IF YOUR HELMET FITS YOU WELL, ASK SOMEONE AT THE BIKE STORE.

ONCE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT HELMET, YOU NEED TO WEAR IT THE RIGHT WAY SO IT WILL PROTECT YOU.  IT SHOULD BE WORN LEVEL AND COVER YOUR FOREHEAD.  THE STRAPS SHOULD ALWAYS BE FASTENED.  IF THE STRAPS ARE FLYING, IT'S LIKELY TO FALL OFF YOUR HEAD WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST.  MAKE SURE THE STRAPS ARE ADJUSTED SO THEY'RE SNUG ENOUGH THAT YOU CAN'T PULL OR TWIST THE HELMET ON YOUR HEAD.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR BIKE HELMET AND DON'T THROW IT AROUND.  THAT CAN DAMAGE THE HELMET AND IT WON'T PROTECT YOU AS WELL WHEN YOU REALLY NEED IT.  IF YOU DO FALL DOWN AND PUT YOUR HELMET TO THE TEST, BE SURE TO GET A NEW ONE.  THEY DON'T WORK AS WELL AFTER A MAJOR CRASH.

MANY BIKE HELMETS TODAY ARE LIGHTWEIGHT AND COME IN COOL COLORS.  IF YOU DON'T LIKE YOURS AS IS, PERSONALIZE IT WITH SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE STICKERS  REFLECTIVE STICKERS AR A GREAT CHOICE BECAUSE THEY LOOK COOL AND MAKE YOU MORE VISIBLE TO PEOPLE DRIVING CARS.