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 Florida boasts some of the world’s most popular family vacation attractions – theme parks seemingly everywhere, as well as a large assortment of unique restaurants and themed dinner theatres. But most of those destinations were not safe for Amanda, when she and her family first relocated to Florida.
Amanda has asthma, and while everyone is negatively affected by secondhand smoke, for her secondhand smoke triggers asthma attacks. Going to restaurants was literally a life-threatening risk for her. While her family would ask to be seated in the farthest corner of the non-smoking section, she was not protected from secondhand smoke. Many times an evening that began for her family in a restaurant ended with Amanda being rushed to the emergency room. The same thing often happened at theme parks, and sadly, Amanda knows where emergency facilities are located in theme parks and has firsthand knowledge of the quality of care given there.
All of that changed in 2003 when Florida’s Amendment 6 went into effect. Amendment 6 appeared on Florida’s ballot in 2002 and prohibited smoking in most workplaces in Florida. Suddenly life became much more normal for Amanda. She can go to a restaurant without living in fear that secondhand smoke will trigger an asthma attack. She can visit various theme parks without worrying that she’ll come into contact with secondhand smoke. Indoor air quality is better all over the state, and it is easier to breathe.
Amanda knows firsthand how important laws that protect everyone from secondhand smoke really are. When these laws go into effect, everyone is able to breathe easier. |
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