My name is Rachael Carlson and I am the president of the Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association. I am writing in support of SB 209/HB 360, affectionately known as the "take it outside bill." Secondhand smoke is a well-known cause of cancer and cardiovascular disease. This bill would be beneficial to reduce unintentional exposure to a wide variety of known carcinogens.
As a health care provider and an Alaska resident, I feel that this bill is a good step towards fighting the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. E-cigarettes also emit many noxious chemicals that, although not yet proven to cause disease, can be very irritating to those around the smoker and can trigger asthma attacks and allergic reactions.
It's simple. Smoking is a health hazard. If you are going to smoke, take it outside to help protect those around you.
— Rachael Carlson
Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association
Anchorage