Health District reduces the risk from 2nd-hand smoke at Five Points South, UAB

Second-hand smoke from tobacco is dangerous and causes major health problems, experts say.

That’s why the Birmingham City Council created the Birmingham Health District a little over a year ago to eliminate the risk from second-hand smoke for students, staff and visitors to UAB and other medical facilities nearby.

All sidewalks, streets, bus stops, parks and other outdoor public areas in the Health District were designated smoke-free as of Dec. 1, 2019.

The ordinance was requested by UAB Medicine, Children’s of Alabama, Cooper Green Mercy Health Services, Jefferson County Department of Health, Southern Research and Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

“As we celebrate our first year of going smoke-free in the Health District, we look to the future of making Birmingham a healthier community by building upon healthy habits,” said Mark Wilson, health officer of the Jefferson County Department of Public Health, in a UAB news release.

The Health District spans an area from Fourth Avenue South to 12th Avenue South and Eighth Street South to 22nd Street South in the UAB and Five Points South areas.

The goal “is to encourage our patients, staff, visitors and community to live healthy lives free of tobacco products,” said Dr. Susan Walley of the UAB Department of Pediatrics.