How many of you smoke...

[FFWannabe]

If you don't mind me asking. I'm going to try to do a poll here, so let's see if that works.

I am an ex smoker, just passed 5 years! My little lady looked up at me one day while I was smoking, with her big blue eyes and said, "Mom, won't you die from smoking?" I inhaled my last puff with that comment and haven't smoked since!

Sue :)

[bestcoast]

Good for you Sue.... Nope never smoked...the yellow fingers are kind of a turn off.......BC.....

[scoop422]

I quit cold turkey just over 6 years ago and haven't had so much as a puff since. Once in a while I still crave one with morning coffee.

[FFWannabe]

here's a great website for anyone with kids... it's in my daughter's favorites folder... so she can get a good reminder of why I quit and why she should never start!



stupid.ca (http://www.stupid.ca/main.html)

Sue :)

[iamvff]

Started smoking in grade 5:( (75 cents a pac) :rolleyes: Smoked from then up til around 1985. Quit lots of times before though...for a day. You know....throw the smokes out the car window, say, "I'm done with it...drive around the block and pick them back up...."when this pack is done!" Quit cold turkey, no cravings...no regrets. Looking back.....THE DUMBEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE!!! bar none. I talk to my kids all the time about how stupid I was and how I coughed and hacked for an hour around 3 or 4am every nite. Their really turned off by it!! Oh, yeah....it's my only claim to fame...started smoking in grade five with Ron Hextall (Philidelpia Flyers goalie) He never smoked after that day....I did!

Be safe
iamvff

[Michael13]

I smoke those damn little cigars way too often, and the bars are no good either. Feels like after the odd firecall if ya get a lung full of smoke, lungs hurt the next Sunday morning.

[bestcoast]

Originally posted by iamvff
Started smoking in grade 5:( (75 cents a pac) :rolleyes: Smoked from then up til around 1985. Quit lots of times before though...for a day. You know....throw the smokes out the car window, say, "I'm done with it...drive around the block and pick them back up...."when this pack is done!" Quit cold turkey, no cravings...no regrets. Looking back.....THE DUMBEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE!!! bar none. I talk to my kids all the time about how stupid I was and how I coughed and hacked for an hour around 3 or 4am every nite. Their really turned off by it!! Oh, yeah....it's my only claim to fame...started smoking in grade five with Ron Hextall (Philidelpia Flyers goalie) He never smoked after that day....I did!

Be safe
iamvff

iamvff, imagine if you had quit that day too......you could have played in "the show" also....;)

[iamvff]

Originally posted by bestcoast
iamvff, imagine if you had quit that day too......you could have played in "the show" also....;)

Oh..don't you worry..I made it reguardless!

I am the best damn water boy & equipment manager the Melita Bison Senior hockey team has ever had!! I am just sitting back waiting for the big dogs to call...any day now!:rolleyes: :p

be safe
iamvff

[LTPVFD]

Grew up in a house full of smokers. Never knew what "fresh air" was until I had my own place. Never knew what "clean clothes" were until they were washed and stored in a smoke free environment.

Both parents passed away from diseases that were no doubt related to their years of smoking.

Always find it interesting that we wear breathing apparatus to protect ourselves, but guys come out of the hazard zone, take off their mask, and light up........

Even worse is all the good looking ladies out there that spoil their appearance with a cigarette hanging out of their mouth....

Stay safe - stay healthy !!


LTPVFD

[DoubleHelix]

Yep never tried it and never will. I was at a few bars on saturday night and its funny when you check out the ladies and then you see them walk to the smoking area or theyre outside smoking and all of a sudden any kind of beauty they had is gone down the hole. Smoking should be banned from people on the fire department. Doesn't mississauga do that?

[FFWannabe]

True enough.. I agree completely about the cigarette making someone look less attractive.. it was good motivation for me to stay a non-smoker.. I used to run a Sports Store in Arnprior and I had a huge front window, I would see this woman from the bank walk up and down the street smoking and the sight of it just made my stomach turn.. she was a really pretty lady, but as soon as she lit up, she just looked unhealthy.. it was gross, really.

There's no smoking in bars and restuarants here in Ottawa, so if/when I decide to go out, I come home smelling like booze, not cigarettes... hahahaha!

Sue :)

[wilderness]

Cigars and only the good ones. And only at the hunt camp and its only one or two every few years so i would have to say no......

[WFD999]

A word from the dark side. Yep I am a smoker. Yep been on and off the wagon. Currently 1/2 of a pack a day. Know all the reasons to quit and none to keep going. Gunna try agian one day. Maybe a week a month or year from now But gunna try agian for the 11 th time. It's gotta stick some time. Been on enough med calls where somebodys hearts imploded. and watched a pack of butts fall out of a breast pocket going to hook up leads. Dont start even a pipe or cigar from there its a slippery slope. Anyone else who's a smoker at least go out into the garage or out on the deck out of the house or any other confined enviroment. Go where your kids arent. Havent smoked in the house for 10 yeasrs and never will agian. Ok enough from the dark side. To quote Ozzy Ozbroune. " The second hardest thing to quit was herion" The hardest __________.

[bfrd22]

Quit Cold in October after almost 30 years on and off, started very young. It's been a very tough haul, Some days almost unbearable, But still swinging, :p

[OldCigar]

I guess I don't count either. Tried smoking when I was 14 did not like it. Start on cigars when I joined the army at 18 and smoked them plus pipes. Just smoke cigars now. Count on how bad the fire is by the number of cigars smoked. And no, I will not say how many years. Respect your elders.

[Scuba]

Originally posted by wilderness
Cigars and only the good ones. And only at the hunt camp and its only one or two every few years so i would have to say no......


I"m with him......Cigars are my only bad trait :D And at that they're only once every few months (maybe even a year......)

Nothing beats sitting up at the camp smoking some fine cuban tobacco and drinking some 30 year single malt scotch.

[bcfire]

Originally posted by bfrd22
Quit Cold in October after almost 30 years on and off, started very young. It's been a very tough haul, Some days almost unbearable, But still swinging, :p

Great stuff bfrd22, did you use any stop smoking aids? I would like to kick it too (had 3 yrs in once). BCFIRE

[FFWannabe]

Originally posted by bcfire
Great stuff bfrd22, did you use any stop smoking aids? I would like to kick it too (had 3 yrs in once). BCFIRE

hey bcfire, I'm not bfrd22, but I quit cold turkey as well, after about 17 years of smoking.. the last few years were pack to a pack and a half a day. I tried Zyban, and while I enjoyed being that wide awake... hahaha... it didn't work out for me. I tried to cut down, and that was a nightmare everytime I picked up a beer. So finally, I just said, that's it, and tossed the pack aside... it was there if I really wanted to smoke, but I didn't touch it. Three months later I finally tossed them out and I haven't smoked since (a couple of cigars, but I was in Cuba, it had to be done.. haha)! It's been 5 years now and man, what a difference. I noticed a huge difference in months while playing sports, I wouldn't get so winded!

it's a great move, it's not easy.. it's a daily conscious dicision not to smoke.. the first two weeks are the toughest and then it gets easier. The struggle is very, very worth it!

Sue :)


Good luck!

[Pembina1019]

Have been a smoker for the last 20+ years and a vff for almost 2 years. Still smoke almost a pack a day and yes even at the calls. Only wish quitting was easier. Maybe someday........

[FireEMTGuy]

I hate to say it and no offense to you personally but if I were to have a choice I would much rather inhale toxins from a structure on a scene than the cigarrette smoke. I certanly hope you do it downwind out of respect for everyone else around you, I can hardly put up with that on a normal day to day basis, I doubt it would be much easier on a call.

[Pembina1019]

When I do smoke at a scene Im never standing still long enough for it to bother anyone else. About 80% of our dept. smokes so I know it doesnt offend them anyways. As for inhaling the toxins instead of the cigarette, sometimes I do agree with you on that one.