LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Your views on issues in the news, editorials and articles in your newspaper are welcomed.

Health

NMB good to limit smoking

I support the mayor and North Myrtle Beach City Council in proposing an indoor smoking ban in public and private businesses in North Myrtle Beach. It’s unfortunate the government has to get involved to get a smoking ban implemented in our area, but regardless of how the ban comes to pass; the end does justify the means. As a veteran health care professional I am puzzled and somewhat embarrassed that in the year 2012 there remains resistance to this initiative.

Almost a dozen different studies support an association between smoking bans and a decrease in incidence of heart attacks after smoking bans were initiated -- just to name one benefit.

Can the U.S. Department of Health, surgeon general, Centers for Disease Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention, AMA, National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine, American Heart Association, National Cancer Institute, National Lung Cancer Partnership, and every cardiologist and oncologist all be exaggerating?

Just ask them if you really want to know. Then visit an oncology unit and watch the nurses repeatedly inject and suction patient after patient as a result of exposure to first and secondhand smoke. It will give you a different perspective of any doubts you may have, either for selfish reasons or otherwise, about the benefits of the critical need for this positive health care initiative.

Please support the North Myrtle Beach indoor smoking ban.

Barbara Dunagan

North Myrtle Beach

Citizen safety

Smoking, helmets, phones need action

There are three important health and safety issues facing the residents of Horry County, South Carolina, and our nation. They are to restrict public smoking, to require a helmet to be worn by all motorcycle riders, and to eliminate driving a vehicle while using a telephone.

There are many personal pro and con opinions being expressed throughout the area. However, why are we not hearing from the insurance companies, the law enforcement agencies and associations, and finally, the health care disciplines?

These are the parties that deal with the alarming consequences of these issues. They know the odds of longevity of smokers, they know the odds of survival rate of motorcycle accidents involve riders without helmets, and they know the degree of accidents involving telephone devises and driving. Why are they not standing up and being heard?

These issues are intended to create and assure safer and healthier environments to extend our lives. Our lives are significant to our families and friends.

Richard Klepper

Garden City Beach