Basic information  
 
Smoking in Korean culture is sometimes associated with dignity, seniority, and status. However, the health effects of smoking are quite hazardous, and second hand smoke can also cause various health problems such as lung cancer, asthma, heart disease and so on. Based on Environmental Protection Agency', second hand smoke causes average 68% increase in breast cancer risk for women younger than 50.
Another search reported that 27% of Korean American family members are exposed to second hand smoke at home every day. Hence, it is essential to develop programs and to educate the population to prevent the harms by second hand smoke.
  
     
Useful Websites  
  -NYC Coalition for a Smoke Free City
  www.nycsmokefree.org
-American Lung Association
  www.alany.org
-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  www.cdc.gov/tobacco
-Quit All Together
  www.quitnet.com
-U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  www.epa.gov/iaq/ets		  
 
   
   
What is Second Hand Smoke?  
 
Second hand smoke is the combination of smoke emitted from the burning end of a cigarette, cigar, or pipe, and smoke exhaled by the smoker.
  
     
Useful Websites  
  - Heart disease
- Lung Cancer
- Nasal sinus Cancer
- Non-malignant respiratory disease 		 
     
Second Hand Smoke can cause the following disease in children  
  - Sudden infant death syndrome
- Fetal growth impairment
- Asthma exacerbation
- Middle ear disease
- Bronchitis, pneumonia,
- Lower respiratory trace infections 		 
     
Second Hand Smoke in the home  
 

- Harmful chemicals from smoking can cling to rugs, curtains, clothes, and other materials
  and can remain there even if smoking took place days, weeks, or months earlier.
- Second hand smoke spreads from one room to another even if the door of the smoking area is
  closed.
- Studies have shown that separating smokers and nonsmokers within the same air space may reduce,
  but not eliminate, nonsmokers¡¯ exposure to second hand smoke

  
 
   
   
What you can do?  
 

- Decide that you want to make the change
- Talk to family members about the health risks of Second Hand Smoke
- Establish rules for your house and post them
- Ask friends, families and visitors to smoke outside of your home and to not smokearound you or your
  family
- Spread the word though local hospitals, doctors, and community groups about the dangers of second
  hand smoke
- Join a tobacco cessation programs to quit, if you or family member is a smoker

 
     
Benefits of a Smoke Free Home  
  - Health of family members will be enhanced.
- Air in home will be fresher, and cleaner.
- Resale value of house will be greater.
- The chance of a fire will be decreased.
  
 
 
Contest Information  
 

The purpose of the contest is to motivate Korean American youth to produce creative and thought-provoking works about the benefits of living in a smoke-free home. It is our hope that Korean American youth will learn about the benefits of a smoke-free home and use their knowledge to educate their families through their art work and writing. Ultimately, the campaign strives to decrease and prevent the presence of second hand smoke in homes.

  
     
Contest Rules  
  The 4th Annual KCS Smoke-Free Home Campaign Art & Writing Contest will begin accepting entries starting May 26, 2007 until September 21, 2007. The theme of our campaign is the above three-part message:
  
 
 
Please, CLEARLY ADDRESS THE THEME on your work through art with 3oo word count explanation or writing with 800 to 1,000 word count. Only one entry per person is permitted and only in English! With your submission, please include the application form found on our brochure, newspaper, or our website at www.kcsny.org . Please submit your entries with the application form by September 21, 2007 to:
The Korean Community Services of
Metropolitan New York, Inc.
Public Health Department
149 West 24 Street 6th Floor
New York, NY 10011
All participants will receive certificates from both the KCS and the New York City Council. Finalists will be published in the Korea Times, and finalists will receive a scholarship which amounts total $3,000. Please visit our website for updates on the contest. Good luck everyone!
 
 
Regisration Information
 

Application

  
 
Name  
Address  
 
Phone  
E-mail  
School  
How did you hear about this contest?
 
 
 
 
     
Detach and mail this completed form with your entry to:
 
 

The Korean Community Services of
Metropolitan New York, Inc.
Public Health Department
149 West 24 St. 6th floor
New York, NY 10011

 
     
For more information  
  Visit our website at www.kcsny.org
Call (212) 463-9685, or
Email to jshin@kcsny.org
            mkim@kcsny.org		  
     
 
  * Sponsored by the NYC Coalition for a Smoke Free City, NYC Council and the Korea Times