The Work Health and Safety Unit acknowledge World No Tobacco Day on 31 May and encourage the University community to adhere to the University Smoking Policy and consider the health risks to themselves and others and seek support to quit smoking.

From 1 February, all University premises and sites, including all buildings, structures, car parks, outdoor areas and vehicles became a smoke-free, fresh air zone, except for a selected number of specifically designated outdoor areas. Further information is available on the WHS Unit website.

Quitting smoking can be one of the most difficult, yet rewarding things a person can do. Most smokers say they would like to quit, and may have tried at least once. Some are successful the first time, but many other people try a number of times before they finally give up for good.

You will feel the benefits of quitting straight away as your body repairs itself. Depending on the number of cigarettes you smoke, typical benefits of stopping are:

• After 12 hours almost all of the nicotine is out of your system.
• After 24 hours the level of carbon monoxide in your blood has dropped dramatically. You now have more oxygen in your bloodstream.
• After five days most nicotine by-products have gone.
• Within days your sense of taste and smell improves.
• Within a month your blood pressure returns to its normal level and your immune system begins to show signs of recovery.
• Within two months your lungs will no longer be producing extra phlegm caused by smoking.
• After 12 months your increased risk of dying from heart disease is half that of a continuing smoker.
• Stopping smoking reduces the incidence and progression of lung disease including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
• After 10 years of stopping your risk of lung cancer is less than half that of a continuing smoker and continues to decline (provided the disease is not already present).
• After 15 years your risk of heart attack and stroke is almost the same as that of a person who has never smoked.

Further information is available on the Australian Government website.