Main Line Sixth Graders Learn the Dangers of Smoking First Hand

March 12, 2012 - PRLog -- •   Every year, more than 20,000 Pennsylvanians die from smoking-related causes .
•   In Pennsylvania, over 850,000 children under 18 are exposed to secondhand smoke.
•   Tobacco use has resulted in more deaths than AIDS, alcohol, car accidents, illegal drugs, murders and suicides combined.
•   Tobacco use, whether direct or indirect through exposure to secondhand smoke, is the number one cause of preventable death and chronic disease; yet, at least 4,000 children try tobacco for the first time every day and 1,000 of those kids will become lifelong users.

Armed with these facts and more Ms. Andrea LeFever, Public Health Educator for the Chester County Health Department, recently conducted an interactive presentation for Devon Prep sixth graders about the dangers of smoking, second hand smoke and the use of tobacco products.

Using models of a human mouth and teeth she showed the boys how tobacco can yellow teeth, as well as cause cancer of the mouth, gums and throat. She and her assistants, interns from West Chester University, talked about tobacco advertising and how, as young people, the boys are prime targets for the tobacco industry. In addition they quizzed the sixth graders on their knowledge of the dangers of tobacco use.

Perhaps the most intriguing part of the presentation was showing the middle schoolers how cigarette smoking affects the lungs.  Ms. LeFever brought two sets of pig lungs to the class. The healthy pig lungs were full size and pink and soft to the touch. The second set of lungs had been exposed to enough tobacco smoke to equal 20 years of smoking. They appeared black and hard and shriveled.

Jacob Pabia of Phoenixville was most impressed by the lung display, “They were cool because the healthy lung was a bright pink and it was like a pillow,” he said. “The lung that was unhealthy was disgusting. It was much smaller and it was black all over and was hard in some spots.”

“It was shocking to see what happens to the lungs from tobacco,” said Chase D’Amico of Springfield. “The tobacco filled lungs were hard and shriveled up. It was fascinating. I can’t believe that your lungs can look like that.”

The presentation came to a close with a taxing demonstration in which the boys were asked to run in place for 30 seconds.  Then they were instructed to breathe through a straw to experience what it feels like to run as a smoker. Tommy Brower of Kimberton explained, “We did that to simulate breathing through a constricted lung. I learned that it is exceedingly challenging.”

According to the sixth graders the whole presentation was educational, interesting and fun.

“It really changed the way I thought about things, and the way I Iook at smokers and how it can hurt me,” said Caelan Coyne of Downingtown.

Michael Hinke of Collegeville agreed, “I always knew that smoking was dangerous, but actually seeing how much it can affect you, your mouth and lungs is a different story.”

The presentation was “truly amazing” to Brendan McGrath of West Chester. “If you’re thinking about smoking, this truly blows that out of the water,” he said. “Seeing what will be in your lungs after a few years makes you feel like attacking the companies. It’s scary, but interesting.”

Devon Prep is a private, Catholic college preparatory school for young men in grades six through 12 conducted by the Piarist Fathers.  For more information contact Devon Prep at 610-688-7337, email, admissions@devonprep.com, or visit www.devonprep.com or www.facebook.com/devonprep.