Chester County Tobacco Control Initiative 

AREUFIT Health Services, Inc. through funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Health is pleased to offer Chester County Elementary schools the Independence Blue Cross Do the SMART Thing^sm Youth Smoking Prevention program.  We had a successful first year in Chester County visiting 1,982 students in 28 elementary schools.  Geared toward students in the fifth grade, this program educates children about the dangers of smoking by demonstrating its harmful effects on the body.

This program was developed in response to these alarming facts from the American Cancer Society:

• 90% of new smokers are school age children

• 89% of smokers start by age 18

Over one million children begin smoking each year. 

What is the Smoking Prevention Center?

The Smoking Prevention Center is a 33’ mobile facility containing various interactive educational tools that visually reinforce the negative effects of smoking on the body.  Examples of the “hands-on” tools include a giant eye-catching Plexiglas cigarette displaying common and unappealing toxic chemicals found in cigarettes, and a realistic mouth model presenting the ill effects of smokeless tobacco. In addition to the discoveries the children uncover on the mobile facility, a classroom component helps reinforce the physiological consequences smoking has on the body through the demonstration of a REAL pig’s lung that has been chemically dyed and enhanced with a simulated cancerous tumor.  Children are encouraged to sign a pledge to stay smoke-free and be a healthy role model for other students.  These are just a few of the interactive tools used to educate the children on the harmful effects of smoking.  

See what some schools have to say about the program:

“The program was age-appropriate and most effective” – Shamona Creek ES 

“Everything was so powerful, you made a lasting impression on the kids.” – Penn Wood ES 

“The hands-on/visual parts of the program really impacted the students.  They were able to understand more fully the actual effects smoking has on the body, rather than begin given statistics.  Length of time was perfect to hold their attention.” – The Montgomery School. 

“Please keep coming back!  This is a powerful prevention message and experience for our vulnerable students.” – Beaver Creek ES 

“I was very impressed!  The demonstrations were all very well prepared and very in-tune with how to relate this topic to 5^th graders.  The students loved the hands-on activities and came away from the program with very strong feeling about not smoking.” – East Fallowfield ES 

We have had a very successful three years in Chester County visiting over 5,000 students in 34 elementary schools.

Thank you to the following schools for participating in the Independence Blue Cross Do the SMART Thing^sm Youth Smoking Prevention program!