Outline
The SmokeCheck training workshops have been developed for Aboriginal Health Workers (AHW) and other health professionals with a primary responsibility for the health care of Aboriginal people in NSW.
The SmokeCheck Project’s training program seeks to
- Increase the ability and confidence of AHW and other health professionals in NSW delivering a brief smoking cessation intervention that is evidence based;
- Increase awareness among Aboriginal communities and health services of effective strategies to minimise exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS);
- Increase awareness among Aboriginal communities and health services in NSW of NSW tobacco-related legislation; and
- Increase the ability and confidence of AHW and other health professionals to plan, implement and evaluate local tobacco health promotion projects.
| Topics covered in the SmokeCheck training workshop include | |
|---|---|
| Brief intervention & motivational interviewing | Health effects |
| History of tobacco use | Nicotine dependence |
| Smoking prevalence & tobacco use | Nicotine replacement therapy & other quit smoking aids |
| Impact of tobacco on Indigenous Australians | Environmental tobacco smoke |
| Social determinants of health | Health promotion & stages of change |
| Cigarette content | SmokeCheck resources & case studies |
Smokerlyzers get people talking!
Smokerlyzers are a range of breath Carbon Monoxide (CO) monitors and testers that measure the amount of CO in exhaled breath. The more you smoke, the higher your CO reading will be. The use of Smokerlyzers at community events and as part of health promotion programs has become very popular with health workers. Andy Mark of the Heart Foundation encourages health workers to use smokerlyzers where they are available. Andy tells us that "smokerlyzers are great to use to engage people to discuss quitting smoking.“
Participants at the SmokeCheck training workshops will now be given a demonstration and have the opportunity to practice using a smokerlyzer during their training day.
- Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a tasteless, odourless poisonous gas and is a by-product of tobacco smoke
- When inhaling smoke, CO is absorbed into blood through the lungs, binding in red blood cells instead of oxygen (O2), then transported through the body
- 10% of the blood cells of a very heavy smoker may be taken up by CO, leaving less room for O2 in the blood
- CO also affects the heart, circulation, breathing & in pregnancy
What CO does to the body
Heart: to compensate for the shortage of O2, the heart has to work harder (beat faster) to get enough O2 to all parts of the body. The heart itself gets less O2 increasing the risk of heart damage.
Circulation: the blood thickens and the arteries to get coated with a thick fatty substance. This causes circulation problems and high blood pressure, with increased risk of a heart attack & stroke. Hands & feet can become colder as less blood circulates to extremities.
Breathing: the reduced supply of O2 means can easily get out of breath when exercising as there is little extra O2 available for the increased demand. The lack of O2 can also cause tiredness and lack of concentration.
Pregnancy: the supply of O2 required by the baby for healthy growth is reduced when the pregnant mother smokes. This can increase the risk of the baby being born underweight or with defects and even the danger of SIDS.
How to use a Smokerlyzer
- The ‘Smokerlyzer’ tests the level of CO in the body through a breath test.
- Can be used during a quit attempt to show CO levels dropping as smoking is reduced…
- The Smokerlyzer is best used 15 minutes after last cigarette smoked.
- When you’re ready, double click the Breath Test icon.
- CLIENT: take a deep breath and hold for 10-15 seconds.
- CLIENT: blow slowly into mouthpiece, for as long as you can (completely emptying lungs if possible).
When people stop smoking the amount of CO in the blood drops very quickly.
