Twelve years ago, on the date of March 20th 2013. Our county’s official highschool SWAT club participated in its very first event. Which was at the time titled “Kick Butts Day”, a day of which all members across the country would organize in separate groups to empower the effort against tobacco in our country through various means and events. Our town’s branch of SWAT had decided to open a booth, filled to the brim with signs, posters. They kept this up from March 18th to the 22nd. They had gotten over 150 students at Okeechobee high school alone to pledge to never use tobacco based products during their lifetimes, this was not only a great first step in our county’s SWAT branch but a fantastic success.
“Despite all the education and statistics available on the potential health issues that are associated with use of tobacco products, middle school and high school students continue to begin use of these products at an alarming rate. The examples set by peers are one of the most effective at redirecting students from starting use of an addictive product that could have lasting long-term health effects by setting and modeling examples of healthy behaviors and alternatives to tobacco use such as participating in sports or being active in community organizations. The best discouragement to prevent tobacco use is to speak to someone who is experiencing those long term health effects.” Said Eden Hornung, Health Science A&P.
Impressions 