Dr. Reka Dank

“During this time of Coronavirus, we really do see patients struggle much more so with the disease who have had exposure to smoke, either in the first hand or in the second hand. And that includes any type of smoke exposure, including vaping. Patients just don't do as well with the disease and oftentimes have much more severe illness and oftentimes suffer much greater complications, including risk of death.”

–Dr. Reka Danko, Physician Member, Washoe County District Board of Health, Previously, Addiction Program Coordinator, Northern Nevada HOPES 
 

Eric Olson

“I think the health and wellness of companies is at the forefront, especially right now. The meeting planners are looking for the non-smoking healthier options. A lot of companies, actually in their travel policies, they write you have to stay somewhere non-smoking. So we have gotten some really nice contracts because we are non-smoking — specifically government contracts, university contracts.”

–Eric Olson, General Manager, Whitney Peak Hotel, Reno’s premier non-smoking, non-gaming hotel

Kelli Seals

“For several years I worked as a contractor for a local health insurance company and provided health and wellness education to casino employees. Many reported going home after a shift with burning eyes, a sore throat, or a headache, or having an asthma attack triggered by smoke exposure at work. While the employers appear to be invested in employee health — as evidenced by having a wellness program — they are inadvertently putting employees at risk with an environment that exposes them to tobacco smoke.”

Carmen Thomas

"Second-hand smoke cost me a job. When I was pregnant with my daughter eighteen years ago, I worked at a casino in Sparks. I told my supervisor that I was pregnant. It was early in my pregnancy, but I was having problems and was afraid of something happening while at work and wanted someone to know. I felt I could trust my supervisor. I worked in the cash cage which doesn't deal with the public and you were allowed to smoke in there. No cigarette breaks, just a constant clogged atmosphere of stale, static of smokey air. I never complained or said anything about the smoke.

Karen Lawson

"Both of my parents were killed by lung cancer due to smoking. The old images of people smoking drinking and gambling is not relevant if we want to live healthy lives in Nevada."

–Karen Lawson