World No Tobacco Day Coincides with Air Force Anti-Smoking Initiatives Published May 28, 2013 By Airman 1st Class Sam Fogleman 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death globally and is currently responsible for killing 1 in 10 adults worldwide. The World Health Organization and its partners annually mark May 31 as World No Tobacco Day to highlight the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. The Air Force has begun anti-smoking policies of its own. "Since the recent implementation of the latest Air Force Instruction 40-102, smoking rates decreased by 13 percent," said William Saultes, Health and Wellness Center Health Promotion Manager at Fairchild. "Designated tobacco areas and areas where tobacco use is prohibited have also been updated, furthering the decrease in consumption." Among many reasons to quit, current smokers are four times as likely to be affected by pneumococcal disease as non-smokers. This is because smoking may cause damage that makes it easier for bacteria to attach to the lungs, in turn making smokers more susceptible to the disease, leading to illnesses such as pneumonia and meningitis. "It is advised for smokers aged 19 and older to receive a vaccine to prevent these illnesses called Pneumovax 23," said Staff Sgt. Kristy Bussey, noncommissioned officer in charge of the Immunizations Clinic. "It is designed to protect individuals from 23 different strains of pneumococcal bacteria. Most adults who receive the vaccine develop protection from most or all of these strains within 14 to 21 days of vaccination." The Immunization Clinic maintains stock of Pneumovax 23 and provides this vaccine (and others) on a walk-in basis, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. The clinic can be reached at 509-247-5284.