The document encourages smokers to quit smoking in order to fully experience and celebrate Independence Day. It notes that smoking damages the lungs and prevents deep breathing. Within 20 minutes of quitting, blood pressure and pulse drop to normal levels and within a few months, coughing and shortness of breath decrease. The document suggests quitting in order to have an enjoyable July 4th spent outside with family and friends without smoke. It provides resources to help smokers develop a quit plan and become tobacco independent.

1. 4 JULY 2013 A BREATH
OF FREEDOM
Live Well and Breathe Free on the Fourth of July
The Fourth of July celebrates our independence – it is a
day to honor all Americans, those who have served, those
who are serving and those who will serve so we can
breathe free. Celebrate your independence and take a
deep breath towards Living Well.
As a smoker, your ability to take that deep breath on July
Fourth won’t be nearly as satisfying as if you were
tobacco-free. From the very first puff, the more than 4,000
chemicals contained in a standard cigarette begin to
damage the lining of your windpipe and prevent your lungs
from performing its main function: taking in oxygen and
removing carbon dioxide.
The good news is that by quitting now, you can fully
experience July Fourth. Within 20 minutes of quitting
smoking your blood pressure and pulse rate drop to
normal levels, within 8 hours carbon monoxide and
oxygen levels return to normal and within just a few
months coughing and shortness of breath are decreased.
Imagine your firework-filled July Fourth spent with family
and friends watching a local parade or having a barbe-cue,
all without a cloud of tobacco smoke hanging over
you. Live well, break free from the grips of tobacco and
don’t cloud up your Independence Day.
Be a strong and active person, you owe it to yourself to
breathe in all of the moments on one of America’s most
celebrated holidays, and Quit Tobacco – Make Everyone
Proud is ready to help.
Visit UCanQuit2.org to chat with trained smoking cessa-tion
coaches, develop your own quit plan and learn all
you need to know about taking that step to becoming
tobacco independent for the Fourth of July.
To access any of the campaign resources or
order free materials, visit www.ucanquit2.org.