November is lung cancer awareness month.  The third Thursday of November is the national Great American Smoke-out.  The American Cancer Society marks this event by encouraging smokers to use the date to make plans to quit, or to plan ahead to quit smoking that day.  By quitting for even one day, smokers take an important first step towards a healthier life.           

Macon-Bibb County Health Department health educators are offering to visit local work places in November to promote the Great American Smoke-out and provide "quit kits" to individuals with the courage to take that first important step.  In exchange for dropping off their pack, they will pick up a survival kit of chewing gum and hard candy and information on helpful resources.  To schedule one to visit your work place, call Camille Watson at (478) 749-0113.

Macon-Bibb County has a higher than state and national average adult smoking rate.  Smoking is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in our community for adults ages 45-74.  Smoking causes many other terrible diseases besides cancer, including emphysema, heart disease and stroke.

Smoking is the single largest preventable cause of disease, disability and premature death in the U.S.  

Macon-Bibb County Health Department works to protect the health of people and their environment wherever in our community they live, work and play.  Through our services we prevent disease, injury and disability; promote health and well-being; and prepare for and respond to disasters from a health perspective.