Smoker or Non?

Well.. do ya or don't ya?

  • yes

    Votes: 22 16.5%
  • No

    Votes: 104 78.2%
  • other

    Votes: 7 5.3%

  • Total voters
    133
  • Poll closed .

wolfwyndd

Forum Captain
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Anyone know how long nicotine remains in urine? I need to take a drug test (which will apparently include nicotine) before starting school Jan 11 2010.
I don't remember an exact quote or anything, but I seem to remember it only stays in the urine for a few days. But I might be wrong.

BTW, insurance or not, I'm with you, I don't believe an employer has any right to tell you what you can and can't do while you're NOT on the job.

And on that happy note, I'm coming up on two years smoke free now. The three things that worked for me where 1. Chantix, 2. Accupunture, 3. a tattoo. Yeah, I got a tattoo of the viking rune for 'strength' and every time I want a cigarette I look at it and tell me I'm stronger then my cravings.
 

texasbred

Forum Ride Along
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Started when I was 13, joined the Army in early 2001 and after 9/11 we got deployment orders and I failed the lung capacity test. So I quit smoking right then and just now I was able to pass a PFT.
 

Chrissy88

Forum Crew Member
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I smoke, I have regularly for about a year and a half now. I end up quitting for a couple of days, then I smoke socially then I'm right back to smoking again.
 

DV_EMT

Forum Asst. Chief
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bunkie

Forum Asst. Chief
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Congrats to you! My husband quit smoking a few years ago and was smoke free for several years but he's smoking again now that he's back in Iraq. :glare: I hope he can quit again. Just keep up the good work!

I do not smoke. A. Cause I think its icky and B. I have horrible asthma and do not wish to piss off my lungs any more.:p
 

imurphy

Forum Captain
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Well being in the severe minority here (11/80) I do smoke.

I know of, and willingly accept the risks associated with it. It is something I enjoy and do not plan on changing in the near future.

I do wonder, however, why exactly it has become socially accpetable for smokers to become so severly prejudiced against. For it seems fine, by societys standards, for someone to come up to me in the street and tell me that I am disgusting and killing myself. There is no outrage when this is done, and it happens all too regularly. But then, on the flip side, if I was to see an obese person in a fast food estiblishment, go up to them and tell them they are disgusting and killing themselves, everyone would be up in arms!

So, when you are insulting others who have made an informed choice, think about how it would feel when the shoe is on the other foot. Just somethign to think about.
 

akflightmedic

Forum Deputy Chief
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My only issue is an obese person does not affect me or my kids with their greasy burgers or chocolate donuts.

A smoker does...
 

akflightmedic

Forum Deputy Chief
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BTW, insurance or not, I'm with you, I don't believe an employer has any right to tell you what you can and can't do while you're NOT on the job.

Sure they can...and you have the right to tell them you no longer wish to work there. It is quite simple really.

I have had employers regulate what jobs we have off duty, so they can certainly regulate certain behaviors...again, it is your choice to work there or not.
 

imurphy

Forum Captain
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My only issue is an obese person does not affect me or my kids with their greasy burgers or chocolate donuts.

A smoker does...

They have no effect on you? Really....
Some of the other effects of obesity include those that are carried by the rest of society. This includes things like an increase in health insurance rates. As more people are obese and require more health treatments, insurance rates go up. These costs are all shouldered by consumers and are felt in our monthly budgets. Insurance companies have to increase premiums in order to cover the cost of caring for sick, when people are obese they have a tendency towards more costly health problems.

Another of the effects of obesity on society includes things as mundane as the change in the size of chairs or seats in cars. Car manufacturers have had to increase the size of the seats in cars to accommodate the populations growing size. As a result the effects of obesity also trickle down into our everyday costs. Obesity is not only a potentially dangerous health condition, it has an impact on our society as well and the cost of obesity is something that affects us all.

I think the extra you have to spend on health insurance / medicare / taxes etc would be better off used on say a family vacation or, given the season, presents for your kids.


Now I am not just getting on my soap box about obese people. I am using it as an example of how society treats one group who has made a choice as opposed to the treatment of another. My main issue is the prejudice we have to live with because of our choice. The phrase "separate but equal" comes to mind.
 

akflightmedic

Forum Deputy Chief
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I thought we were talking outside the insurance issue as that has been discussed before and I think someone said "not considering the insurance" or something to that effect.

Standing in line watching someone eat a cheeseburger has no effect on me or my family whereas a smoker does. Dispute that and you have a case for me to shut up.
 

imurphy

Forum Captain
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Well I believe we will have to agree to disagree.

I am just showing how it's deemed socially acceptable to be openly prejudiced against people who have made an informed choice, while it's unacceptable to be predjuiced against other groups. Are we going to see you openly bashing other people who have made a choice in how they live their lives? How about immigrants who have chosen to come here? Want to start on them too? No, because it wouldn't be such an easy target.

There are many things that offend me, but you know what, I shut up about it. Because I don't want to be predjudiced to those people or groups yet I live with this every day.

I do not feel that I have to justify myself to yourself nor anybody else on my choice. It is my choice. And I stand by it. If it offends you, I am not sorry. You make your choices, and that's your right too.
 

reaper

Working Bum
2,817
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I thought we were talking outside the insurance issue as that has been discussed before and I think someone said "not considering the insurance" or something to that effect.

Standing in line watching someone eat a cheeseburger has no effect on me or my family whereas a smoker does. Dispute that and you have a case for me to shut up.

Hold your breath!;):p
 

akflightmedic

Forum Deputy Chief
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Well I believe we will have to agree to disagree.

I am just showing how it's deemed socially acceptable to be openly prejudiced against people who have made an informed choice, while it's unacceptable to be predjuiced against other groups. Are we going to see you openly bashing other people who have made a choice in how they live their lives? How about immigrants who have chosen to come here? Want to start on them too? No, because it wouldn't be such an easy target.

There are many things that offend me, but you know what, I shut up about it. Because I don't want to be predjudiced to those people or groups yet I live with this every day.

I do not feel that I have to justify myself to yourself nor anybody else on my choice. It is my choice. And I stand by it. If it offends you, I am not sorry. You make your choices, and that's your right too.

It does not offend me...it HARMS me...big difference and yes stuff harms us every day but this is one that can be controlled.
 

Sasha

Forum Chief
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Another of the effects of obesity on society includes things as mundane as the change in the size of chairs or seats in cars. Car manufacturers have had to increase the size of the seats in cars to accommodate the populations growing size.

I like the bigger seats, more room for me to stretch out. ;)
 

wolfwyndd

Forum Captain
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Sure they can...and you have the right to tell them you no longer wish to work there. It is quite simple really.

I have had employers regulate what jobs we have off duty, so they can certainly regulate certain behaviors...again, it is your choice to work there or not.

Well, when you put it like that. . . . . . . . . my opinion hasn't changed. I don't think that employers have the right to tell you where you can and can not work either.
 

akflightmedic

Forum Deputy Chief
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So in a small to medium size town, there is enough population for a strip club to thrive.

Is it acceptable for one of the EMS members to work there on their nights off?

What if the mayor or some council members decide to do it?

What if there is a corporate buyer for WalMart who also happens to be a part time seller for one of Wal Marts favorite buying places.

Are you telling me that the FT employer can not or should not direct employees on where they can or can not work?
 

VentMedic

Forum Chief
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Well I believe we will have to agree to disagree.

I am just showing how it's deemed socially acceptable to be openly prejudiced against people who have made an informed choice, while it's unacceptable to be predjuiced against other groups. Are we going to see you openly bashing other people who have made a choice in how they live their lives? How about immigrants who have chosen to come here? Want to start on them too? No, because it wouldn't be such an easy target.

There are many things that offend me, but you know what, I shut up about it. Because I don't want to be predjudiced to those people or groups yet I live with this every day.

I do not feel that I have to justify myself to yourself nor anybody else on my choice. It is my choice. And I stand by it. If it offends you, I am not sorry. You make your choices, and that's your right too.

You still do not have the right to impinge upon the rights of others with your habits. I do not allow people to smoke or take illegal drugs in my house. I do not allow them to drink to excess unless there is a sober driver around. If I am paying for your insurance, I would expect you to at the very least not to do something so blatantly obvious that is detrimental to your health as smoking is. An employer has the same rights as I do in my house.

The employer expects you not to do illegal drugs and smoking is something that is very much known to cause health problems not only for that person but their patients as well. It is ridiculous to even be having this discussion on a forum where there are supposed to be health care providers here. Although EMS is not really involve in teaching patients unless they are part of public safety, being an example of practice what you preach goes a long way.

If you, as a health care professional , do illegal drugs or drinks to excess even if you are a "functioning alcoholic", your medical license will be in jeopardy. Is that discrimination? It impedes upon your right to be a junkie or an alcoholic as your life's choice. Of course it shouldn't matter when it comes to treating them as patients but it does matter when they are on the other side accepting the responsibility of doing the treating.

And yes we do discriminate again people who are overweight when they can not perform their duties. 200 or 220 is the max for HEMS or flight medics. Someone who weighs in at 400 pounds probably won't make it in the Fire or Police academy. I'm sure there are many other jobs where size matters and an obese person can not apply. Even some helicopters can not transport an obese patient. Discrimination or safety?

We do have racial guidelines for hiring as we might even have to restrict the number of all American whites in favor of hiring minorities. In Miami/Dade County the majority of the population is now Hispanic to where their "minority" status is affected in some issues. Have you ever seen a white contestant in a black beauty pageant?

We also now have laws in some cities that all the restaurants must cook with 0 trans fat cooking oil. So there is a greater plan in place to help those with obesity issues. It is not just the poor smoker is being picked on. But then, when it comes to being a health care professional, your responsibilties to others must be considered and that includes your employer, your co-workers and the patients. Those at some of our hospitals and FDs who failed to see their responsibilites of employment were essentially told to find another place to work. You do have the right to seek employment where they allow your habits.
 

VentMedic

Forum Chief
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So in a small to medium size town, there is enough population for a strip club to thrive.

Is it acceptable for one of the EMS members to work there on their nights off?

What if the mayor or some council members decide to do it?

What if there is a corporate buyer for WalMart who also happens to be a part time seller for one of Wal Marts favorite buying places.

Are you telling me that the FT employer can not or should not direct employees on where they can or can not work?

If I had posed for Playboy in my younger years, I'm sure the FD would have told me to seek other employment. In fact that was made very clear by my FD after a few that were told exactly that in other FDs and LE agencies. Beefcake calendars were still acceptable as long as one left some clothes on. But, once the line was crossed into pornography, that employee became a liability and not an asset.
 
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