Despite successes in smoke-free policies, million of nonsmokers across the country, the state and in our community are still exposed to secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is a known cause of heart disease, cancer and chronic lung ailments.

The good news is we know that comprehensive smoke-free laws save lives. Research has shown that strong smoke-free policies can reduce heart attack rates by as much as 47 percent. Now, I would say that’s a pretty astounding statistic, however, I would be completely satisfied with saving even one life.

I’m calling on members of the Sheffield City Council to protect me, my loved ones and the rest of our residents from secondhand smoke. This issue is important to me because in 1992 my mother Ethel Thompson suffered a massive stroke from years of smoking. To see the impact that smoking made on her health and the devastation that her death caused her family makes me a strong supporter of a smoke-free Sheffield.

As a volunteer of the American Heart Association, I support efforts to adopt a comprehensive smoke-free ordinance in the city of Sheffield that includes restaurants and bars.

Glenda Carter

Sheffield