This seems so ridiculous to me. Do you agree or disagree
By Grandmaof2
@Grandmaof2 (7579)
Canada
May 5, 2007 12:45am CST
Lately with all the doctoring I have done I've been in and out of the hospital and in and out of the Safeway where my pharmacy is and here's what I don't understand. Althought the government has made smoking socially unacceptable in most places out here where I live when you go to the hospital you are not allowed to smoke inside the building. So what did they do they've mounted a big ugly looking ashtray/stand and it's permanantly mounted on the building directly in front of the main door as you walk in. So if you're having an asthma attack how nice you have to walk right through the smoke. The other thing I have noticed is you walk into a pharmacy and they're all the same here. You walk in and right up front you can buy cigarettes, and yet if you're sick and you need a perscription filled you need to walk all the way to the back of the store to get your pills. Isn't this a bit backwards?
14 people like this
15 responses
@PurpleTeddyBear (6685)
• Canada
5 May 07
Hi Grandmaof2,
You are so right hun. It is unreal the way that things you aren't supposed to be doing are the easiest to access. The Hospital here though recently changed that so that you can't smoke right outside the door. Their is a walkway about 10 feet to the front doors, and right at that mark their is a big ashtray and a sign that says no smoking past this point. That is a step in the right direction, but at stores the smokes are always right at the front!
4 people like this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
5 May 07
Yes it is this is what annoys me to
Also they have stopped us Smokers smoking in Public and that so when are they going to get rid of the other Chemicals that the Factory's and that are putting in the Air???? I am a smoker yes and I know I shouldn't but I am a considerate Smoker but these Factory's are not considerate
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
5 May 07
I agree with you gabs. I'm a considerate smoker and I smoke only in designated areas. I cannot help though where stores or companies place those areas. Sometimes they don't think but that is their fault not mine.
I know when I left the hospital after being in for sometime and not able to smoke I didn't notice the smokers near the entrance at all. I noticed all the fumes coming from the cars. It almost choked me with how bad they were and our area isn't bad with smog.
Now this last time I was in the hospital there was no place at all for smokers to smoke. They had to go off property to do it. Now this sounds nice but for those who are able to get up and move about that meant they would have to go off property to smoke, it was very weird to see these people in night gowns and with IV poles on the corner smoking. Patients are going through enough while in there without having to deal with withdrawals. Their time in there is boring enough and for smokers that gives them something to do.
@tictactams (135)
• Australia
6 May 07
i smoke but i dont smoke near people who dont i find it very rude tho if your at friends or family and they are smokers and your having lunch or tea there that they light up while your eating being a smoker myself i would not do that to anyone cause it puts you off your food
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
11 May 07
I'm shocked that a pharmacy even sells ciggys. Grandma, the world has gone crazy. I don't know what to add, where to start. Everything is just so out of whack. People are becoming sicker, the rich get richer, the poor become poorer. Racism and bigotry are tied up with religion and terrorism, there is so much hatred and ugliness.
We need to really try very hard to focus on being healthy, in mind body and spirit and I think the only way to do this is through prayer and seeking out our higher power. May you find peace and health in these difficult times. Blessed be.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
5 May 07
I've never thought about the smoking thing but it's true, doesn't make since.
I have thought of the pharmacy thing in the past including yesterday when I went myself... I'm in pain, my back killing me and had to walk to the very back of the store and every place that has a pharmacy in our town is the same way. Stupid!
@sweetsue (758)
• Philippines
5 May 07
Of course that is really a bit backwards. How ridiculous. That thing should be brought in to the notice of the hospital personnel. Somebody should tell them that it actually brings no good to the patient or the people who go and visit the place.
2 people like this
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
5 May 07
I agree with you it is a bit backwards. Here in California where I live at the hospital where I use to work they removed all the ashtrays that where at the front door. The put the ashtrays away from the door so people had to walk away from the door to smoke.
In some stores the pharmancy is in the front of the store at the side if you can find a store like that maybe you can change. I go to a walgreens where they have a drive through. When you are sick and need an antibiotic or some other medication the last think you need is to walk to the back of the store and then stand in line for 10-20 minutes. So they have a drive through sitting in line is not as bad.
@weemam (13372)
•
5 May 07
Hiya pal . It has been against the law in Scotland for over 1 year that people are not allowed to smoke in public places and it is a good thing as I have asthma and it has made a big difference to me , As for the dispensing being don e right at the back of a sore or a chemist shop , well I read somewhere that this is a marketing ploy as people have to walk past all of the goods the store sells before they get their prescription and this way they might just see something else and be tempted to buy it xx
@kgwat70 (13388)
• United States
5 May 07
I definitely agree with you that all of this is backwards and that they are contradicting the point of trying to get people to stop smoking. They should not even encourage people to smoke inside or outside of the hospital. It is not good for those who do and do not smoke. Many people do not want to walk through a smokey area. They should not have ashtrays outside of the building either. Everybody that walks through that area will be bringing the smoke in with them to the hospital so it is not doing any good.
1 person likes this
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
5 May 07
Oh my goodness that is ridiculous to put an ashtray there that is not good for anyone health I am a smoker but surely someone in their right mind would not put it there at all. They should of built it in some other appropriate place so that the smokers could put their cigerattes out away from the sick people. It surely is backward.
@cassidy22 (2974)
• United States
5 May 07
There are some private businesses that have stated that not only is the building no smoking, but you can not smoke within 50 FEET OF ANY ENTRANCE! I LOVE that rule! And I think it should be the same rule at any hospital, restaurant, grocery store, pharmacy, etc. People with asthma (I have it too) should NOT be forced to breathe second hand smoke. They should be able to go anywhere without that fear.
Thankfully, I live in COlorado, where smoking is now illegal in all restaurants and bars, and I really don't bump into smokers much anymore.
@crickethear (1417)
• United States
5 May 07
That is unbelieveable. I can't believe a hospital would allow that, and or even do that. You should complain. There should be no smoking period. Or at least put it away from the building entrances where people are coming and going. I would complain. If enough people complain about it, they should do something about it. That just blows me away. I do know that the government wants to make it so that no smoking will be allowed any where that is 60 feet in front of a building. I hope that one goes through. Right now where I work, all the smokers are on the patio, it is so smokey, it is horrible to walk to get in or out. Good luck, I hope you can figure something out in the meantime.
@Carissimo (262)
• United States
5 May 07
Many hospitals have adopted the No Smoking on campus (meaning staff, patients, etc.) rules, its unfortunate that the hospital you are speaking of has not done this. I think its horrible for patients to have to be around smoke. Have you ever thought about a petition to change it? It really might be helpful, I am sure that you are not the only person who feels this way about this hospital.
Also, good point regarding the pharmacy...I never noticed it. It is kinda backwards, someone wasnt thinking!
@tictactams (135)
• Australia
6 May 07
i agree that just not right here in adelaide our pharmancy dont sell smokes and at the hospital they have the ashtry right away from the door with a white line that if you smoke past that white line you get fined two hundred dollars
@GardenGerty (160483)
• United States
5 May 07
Yes, both represent an irony of life. I think some of the hospitals I have visited have posted their ashtray things off the property now. I know that even employees get in trouble for smoking in their own cars on the premises. As long as that ashtray is by the front door, people will be puffing until the last possible minute. It needs to be removed. Some of the newer groceries with pharmacies have drive through pharmacies and/or have their pharmacies at the front end of the store. Much easier for people who are sick.
