Casinos should remain smoke-free

Nearly four months have passed since casinos across the commonwealth closed their doors due to the spread of COVID-19. Now, casinos in western Pennsylvania are open to the public with some additional safety protocols to keep their patrons and employees safe.

One vital safety measure that has been taken is banning smoking inside all casinos in the commonwealth. However, this ban is specifically listed to be temporary.

Breathe Free Pennsylvania along with its partners would like to thank and congratulate all casinos in Pennsylvania for prioritizing the health of their patrons and employees during the COVID-19 pandemic by banning smoking. But a temporary ban is not enough. Casinos should remain smokefree establishments permanently.

Exposure to secondhand smoke kills approximately 41,000 non-smokers in the United States every year. By allowing indoor smoking in casinos across the commonwealth, you are putting the health of tens of thousands of workers and customers at risk.

Tobacco use is the number one cause of preventable death nationwide. Exposure of adults to secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and causes coronary heart disease and cancer. According to a letter from former Speaker of the House Mike Turzai, R-Marshall, as of May 17, 54% of the 4,342 Pennsylvanians that died from COVID-19 had heart disease.

Life is always a gamble, but our health should not be compromised for wanting to enjoy one of Pennsylvania’s casinos.

BRUCE BENDA Franklin Park

The writer is a chair on the American Heart Association of Greater Pittsburgh board of directors.