Tulalip students get hands-on lessons about dangers of smoking
Published on Tue, Jan 12, 2010 by Beckye RandallRead More Communities
"Ewwww, gross!" exclaimed the fourth graders as Kathy Ketchum held up a lobe of a human lung that had belonged to a long-time smoker.
"That's exactly the reaction I want to hear," Ketchum said with a smile.
Known to school children throughout Puget Sound as The Organ Lady, Ketchum has been talking to kids about the dangers of smoking and other harmful activities since 1989.
In addition to her work as a registered nurse at Providence Colby Campus and a teacher at Everett Community College, Ketchum has visited with more than 2,000 students in Marysville and Tulalip since October 2009. Her presentation varies depending on the age of her audience, but the message is consistent: Smoking and drug use can kill you.
"A cigarette contains over 4,000 chemicals," she told the fascinated group of 4th graders at Tulalip Elementary on December 16, "including nail polish remover, cyanide and carbon monoxide."
She warned them that tobacco companies are constantly recruiting new smokers to replace the 3,000 to 4,000 who die each day. "You're just a great big dollar sign to them," she said, explaining that gimmicks like flavored "lipstick" cigarettes are meant to camouflage the negative impacts of nicotine.
Ketchum acknowledges that ceremonial tobacco use is an integral part of tribal ceremonies, but her program is designed to encourage young people to stay away from abusing tobacco and other harmful drugs. It's a message tribal leaders are eager to share.
In fact, the Tulalip Tribes has launched a $334,000 Smoking Cessation program for tribal members and the surrounding community through its health clinic. Funded by casino revenues and a $20,400 grant from the Washington State Department of Health, the year-long program will include presentations at area schools and businesses and outreach programs aimed at the entire Marysville-Tulalip community.
"The strategy behind this program will be to focus on prevention with our area youth and cessation for our adults," said Mel Sheldon, chairman of the Tulalip Tribes. Specifically, the campaign's objectives are to reduce smoking in youth, persons with diabetes and pregnant women.
Nadine Carter, the Tobacco Cessation Program coordinator for the Tulalip Health Clinic, added, "We are reaching out beyond tribal borders, to offer help to the general public. Anyone can participate and access the clinic's resources at no charge to quit smoking, whether they're tribal members or not."
Kathy Ketchum speaks to the young people from experience. She started smoking while in the seventh grade, and was "hooked" on nicotine before she realized it. Her eighth grade science teacher held a demonstration similar to the one she presents today, with actual damaged organs on display, that convinced the young Ketchum to ditch the habit.
Ketchum's classroom visit also included a demonstration on the physical effects of alcohol, using "drunk" glasses to simulate the lack of motor control and visual impairments that make driving while intoxicated so dangerous.
Judging by the comments made by students, the demonstrations did their job.
"I'm not ever going to smoke or any of that other stuff," said Kylee Sohappy. She thought the opportunity to look at human organs was "gross but kind of cool, and a little bit scary."
Eddie Reeves agreed. "It was kind of gross but awesome," said the fourth grader. "I don't want to smoke or do any drugs. And I'm going to help my mom and dad learn more about it."
Teacher Karen Rochon was impressed with the demonstration. "The Organ Lady's presentation lets kids relate and make connections in their own life. They all know someone who smokes or drinks, and now they have some knowledge about why they shouldn't necessarily do the same things."
To find out more about the quit smoking program, contact Nadine Carter at the Tulalip Health Clinic at (360) 716-5719. Learn about Ketchum's non-profit organization Choice and Consequence at www.choiceandconsequence.org.
"That's exactly the reaction I want to hear," Ketchum said with a smile.
Known to school children throughout Puget Sound as The Organ Lady, Ketchum has been talking to kids about the dangers of smoking and other harmful activities since 1989.
In addition to her work as a registered nurse at Providence Colby Campus and a teacher at Everett Community College, Ketchum has visited with more than 2,000 students in Marysville and Tulalip since October 2009. Her presentation varies depending on the age of her audience, but the message is consistent: Smoking and drug use can kill you.
"A cigarette contains over 4,000 chemicals," she told the fascinated group of 4th graders at Tulalip Elementary on December 16, "including nail polish remover, cyanide and carbon monoxide."
She warned them that tobacco companies are constantly recruiting new smokers to replace the 3,000 to 4,000 who die each day. "You're just a great big dollar sign to them," she said, explaining that gimmicks like flavored "lipstick" cigarettes are meant to camouflage the negative impacts of nicotine.
Ketchum acknowledges that ceremonial tobacco use is an integral part of tribal ceremonies, but her program is designed to encourage young people to stay away from abusing tobacco and other harmful drugs. It's a message tribal leaders are eager to share.
In fact, the Tulalip Tribes has launched a $334,000 Smoking Cessation program for tribal members and the surrounding community through its health clinic. Funded by casino revenues and a $20,400 grant from the Washington State Department of Health, the year-long program will include presentations at area schools and businesses and outreach programs aimed at the entire Marysville-Tulalip community.
"The strategy behind this program will be to focus on prevention with our area youth and cessation for our adults," said Mel Sheldon, chairman of the Tulalip Tribes. Specifically, the campaign's objectives are to reduce smoking in youth, persons with diabetes and pregnant women.
Nadine Carter, the Tobacco Cessation Program coordinator for the Tulalip Health Clinic, added, "We are reaching out beyond tribal borders, to offer help to the general public. Anyone can participate and access the clinic's resources at no charge to quit smoking, whether they're tribal members or not."
Kathy Ketchum speaks to the young people from experience. She started smoking while in the seventh grade, and was "hooked" on nicotine before she realized it. Her eighth grade science teacher held a demonstration similar to the one she presents today, with actual damaged organs on display, that convinced the young Ketchum to ditch the habit.
Ketchum's classroom visit also included a demonstration on the physical effects of alcohol, using "drunk" glasses to simulate the lack of motor control and visual impairments that make driving while intoxicated so dangerous.
Judging by the comments made by students, the demonstrations did their job.
"I'm not ever going to smoke or any of that other stuff," said Kylee Sohappy. She thought the opportunity to look at human organs was "gross but kind of cool, and a little bit scary."
Eddie Reeves agreed. "It was kind of gross but awesome," said the fourth grader. "I don't want to smoke or do any drugs. And I'm going to help my mom and dad learn more about it."
Teacher Karen Rochon was impressed with the demonstration. "The Organ Lady's presentation lets kids relate and make connections in their own life. They all know someone who smokes or drinks, and now they have some knowledge about why they shouldn't necessarily do the same things."
To find out more about the quit smoking program, contact Nadine Carter at the Tulalip Health Clinic at (360) 716-5719. Learn about Ketchum's non-profit organization Choice and Consequence at www.choiceandconsequence.org.
blog comments powered by Disqus
