Posted on Jun 11, 2019
Have you seen that they are banning smoking at VA Facilities? What bonehead floated that?
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Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 11
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It's almost like they have the audacity to want you to be healthier while providing your health care, or at least not condoning the continued destruction of your health.
You know how much money is lost on Healthcare due to smoking? $170 billion a year in the US. It makes perfect sense for the VA to actively discourage its use.
You know how much money is lost on Healthcare due to smoking? $170 billion a year in the US. It makes perfect sense for the VA to actively discourage its use.
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PO2 Russell "Russ" Lincoln
So lets ban all behaviors that are bad for our health. What's next? Ban sweets from the cafeteria along with fried food of all types. Do away with the shuttle so we will be encouraged to walk more. Just where do we draw the line in a free country?
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SFC (Join to see)
PO2 Russell "Russ" Lincoln it's funny how people think free means lack of responsibility. Somehow it's a free country so you can smoke, drink, and get diabetes. But then, everyone else's responsibility to pay their taxes for that person's health care, which they simply refuse you take care of.
Second, people are still free to smoke, just not at the VA. If they want to take out sweet foods from the cafeteria because they don't need dietary needs, that is their prerogative as a healthcare center. No one is going veterans houses and removing their tobacco and candy. It is the va's house oh, so it is their rules. In my house, there are no cell phones at the dinner table. That's for guest and children alike. It's still a free country oh, and they can still take their phone away from the dinner table if they need to answer it.
Second, people are still free to smoke, just not at the VA. If they want to take out sweet foods from the cafeteria because they don't need dietary needs, that is their prerogative as a healthcare center. No one is going veterans houses and removing their tobacco and candy. It is the va's house oh, so it is their rules. In my house, there are no cell phones at the dinner table. That's for guest and children alike. It's still a free country oh, and they can still take their phone away from the dinner table if they need to answer it.
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SGT Harry C Miller Jr
Let Me just say, when we smoke it's not in the Facility's it's out-side in Quanson Hut set-up in a big parking lot.
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LTC Jason Mackay
PO2 Russell "Russ" Lincoln - no one is telling them they can't, just have to do it way over there. It's not a right. I'm a veteran. I don't smoke, so why do I have to be subjected to second hand smoke? I like steaks, so does that mean my gym has to install a steak grill in the middle of the weight room....I mean I'm pretty stubborn and I think I've earned that right.
Smoking in all military facilities is prohibited. The smoke areas are now outside motorpool gates and must be at least 50' away, for Army facilities by regulation. Ships were allegedly going smokeless two years ago. I believe subs are smokeless. I think there is one designated spot per vessel.
I think it's safe to say we disagree. I'll leave it at that. Unless there is a legal basis to overturn it, then work place safety will trump it.
Smoking in all military facilities is prohibited. The smoke areas are now outside motorpool gates and must be at least 50' away, for Army facilities by regulation. Ships were allegedly going smokeless two years ago. I believe subs are smokeless. I think there is one designated spot per vessel.
I think it's safe to say we disagree. I'll leave it at that. Unless there is a legal basis to overturn it, then work place safety will trump it.
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SGT Harry C Miller Jr
You people don't have a clue, for decades the military put smokes in c-rations !
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SGT Harry C Miller Jr
Hey Bone-Head,,, it is a right and a choice of Freedom.. It's MY right to smoke & Your right NOT to !
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LTC Jason Mackay
SGT Harry C Miller Jr they also sat people in front of nuclear weapons and set them off.
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Do you mean smoking areas outside? I know for some people, that's a stress reliever.
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PO2 Russell "Russ" Lincoln
At the civilian medical clinic I work at smokers have to go across the street.
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SN (Join to see)
BONEHEADS will be BONEHEADS and strive to make their point the valid one!! Smoking is not a RIGHT. Its a choice!! Learn the difference between the two or go back to school and relearn the English language.
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It's a healthcare facility. I see it as well within common sense to ban an activity that is so damaging to a person's health.
Edit: The hospitals and clinics, anyway.
Edit: The hospitals and clinics, anyway.
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PO2 Russell "Russ" Lincoln
Use of tobacco products is only allowed outside in designated areas. Those areas are well away from doors with ample room for non-smokers to avoid them.
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SGT Christopher Hayden
PO2 Russell "Russ" Lincoln - I'm not talking about non-smokers breathing in your second-hand bullshit. I'm talking about the VA not wanting smokers to slowly kill themselves while on VA property, all the while bitching about how their free healthcare sucks.
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PO2 Russell "Russ" Lincoln
Slowly killing themselves versus killing themselves while waiting for needed healthcare?
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I see a lot of veterans hanging out at the VA just for the camaraderie. As a non-smoker, it never bothered me.
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PO2 Russell "Russ" Lincoln
Thank you, I am a former smoker myself, and have no problem with those who continue to smoke.
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Though smoking is a stress reliever (sometimes the LEAST destructive coping they have to attend their (psychiatric) treatment. It would be by working actively and collaboratively they could transition from using smoking to another less destructive coping. I'm not a proponent of substances however, recognize we have to work with the most pragmatic approach. "Don't do this" often results in rebellious behavior. How the message is delivered can sometimes be as (or more) important as the policy. Yes there are those who will be more blunt about it regardless of how we word things, however the presentation still has an impact on reception.
Having people smoke OFF grounds is a rational policy. One would hope that we still care about the well-being of our neighbors to be conscious enough to take actions that may not jeopardize this.
Having people smoke OFF grounds is a rational policy. One would hope that we still care about the well-being of our neighbors to be conscious enough to take actions that may not jeopardize this.
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PO2 Russell "Russ" Lincoln
I see your point. We also need to take into account the physical abilities of the group. Is it possible for them to get off the grounds without undue hardship.
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Max Ross
PO2 Russell "Russ" Lincoln
This is a very valid point re: physical limitations. If the individual requires physical assistance from another individual, especially staff to get off site to smoke. This could be a challenge (and perhaps one that motivates the individual to focus on recovery). Regardless, I would draw the line at healthcare employees being prohibited from "chauferring" I'll individuals off site for the smoking ( seems like PAS to a degree). If they develop a comraderie and get able bodies peers to move them, great, but in no way should healthcare providers be physically assisting in this process.
This is a very valid point re: physical limitations. If the individual requires physical assistance from another individual, especially staff to get off site to smoke. This could be a challenge (and perhaps one that motivates the individual to focus on recovery). Regardless, I would draw the line at healthcare employees being prohibited from "chauferring" I'll individuals off site for the smoking ( seems like PAS to a degree). If they develop a comraderie and get able bodies peers to move them, great, but in no way should healthcare providers be physically assisting in this process.
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PO2 Russell "Russ" Lincoln
Agreed. Another point is how many would not be smokers if it weren't for military service? So basically a service connection.
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And this is a problem, why? As a reformed smoker, I can't stand to be around cigarette smoke, so I avoid those places where smokers tend to gather. The last place I want to walk through a cloud of smoke is on my way into or out of a medical facility. So, leave the smokes in the car, take care of you business at the VA, get back in your car and blaze away.
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Why should the rest of the population be subjected to the idiocy of those who think its a NECESSITY to smoke cigarettes?? Where's the logic in using them anyway if its known to cause your death?? What BONEHEAD can prove to the rest of us that smoking cigarettes is NECESSARY in order to survive another day?? Show us the proof that smoking anything that contains tobacco is an ABSOLUTE NECESSITY!!
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Smoking has been banned at every government facility that I have been to in the last 5 years. What's the big deal?
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PO2 Russell "Russ" Lincoln
The big deal is that most of these vets will spend the whole day at these facilities waiting between phases of care or waiting for their ride. If they can sit and visit with other vets and smoke it makes the time go by faster.
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TSgt Robert Moore
Are you referring to inside or outside? I don't mind smoking anyway but my comment was based on inside. I'm a former smoker myself.
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SP5 Dennis Dorsey
Almost all places ban smoking inside. Most places post that a smoker must be 25 feet from entrance. The VA I go to has benches and a smoke pot by the side entrance.
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