THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 14, 1995 TAG: 9509140001
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 31 lines
In response to Marjorie Bishop's letter to the editor (Sept. 7) critical of a ban on smoking at outdoor school activities: While individuals may choose to harm themselves by indulging in pizza, hot dogs, soda, etc., sold at these activities, they are not hurting others. Second-hand smoke does hurt others nearby.
It has been proved that second-hand smoke is dangerous to healthy individuals, and to those of us with chronic respiratory problems it can be life-threatening.
Incidentally, I am also overweight, but I can assure you it's not from indulging in pizza, hot dogs, soda, etc. Due to severe food allergies, I must ingest a never-ending cycle of steroids and medicine in order to survive. Cigarette smoke greatly aggravates my asthma.
I'd much rather pop a piece of pizza in my mouth instead of Prednisone or suck on a straw in a soda instead of puffing on an inhaler. Still, these activities I do without any adverse effect on others nearby.
JACQUELYN PRATSCHER
Virginia Beach, Sept. 8, 1995 by CNB