Current regulations mandate that all hospital areas must be smoke-free. Occupational Health and Risk Prevention professionals recently emphasized this rule during an event at Sant Joan Hospital for World No Tobacco Day. The focus was on the dangers associated with smoking in healthcare settings, including the risk of fires and explosions.

It was recalled that such incidents have previously caused serious situations in healthcare centers. An example cited was the recent fire at La Vega Baja Hospital (Torrevieja), where a patient's cigarette started a blaze that injured two patients, required treatment for ten staff members, and necessitated the relocation of ninety patients.

The event at Sant Joan Hospital aimed to reinforce the message about the risks of smoking, promote smoking cessation, and inform about available support resources. An informational session for healthcare professionals and an information desk in the lobby for patients and staff were organized.

Esther Pastor, the pulmonologist in charge of the Specialized Smoking Unit, highlighted that the initiative seeks to "remind everyone of the importance of continuing to move towards a completely smoke-free hospital," a commemoration the center holds periodically.

The Specialized Smoking Unit at Sant Joan University Hospital in Alicante, established in 1999, is a leading resource in the Valencian Community. It handles approximately 1,000 consultations annually, offering multidisciplinary treatment with pharmacological and psychological support, and provides continuous follow-up for about a year.

Eusebi Chiner, Head of the Pneumology Service, stressed that World No Tobacco Day aims to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco, support healthcare professionals as health promoters, and advance towards smoke-free healthcare environments.