I am writing in regard to the November issue, page 72, on which there appears an ad endorsing tobacco. I can't remember ever seeing an ad in Fire Engineering or any other fire service trade magazine endorsing or encouraging the use of tobacco products. I feel this ad is not in keeping with the magazine's philosophy and beliefs. As an avid reader of Bobby Halton's Editor's Opinion, I find his information, opinions, and thoughts to be of great value and inspiration. I believe firefighter health and well-being are priority issues for Fire Engineering, as demonstrated by the content and editorial history.
The fire service is continually reminded that cardiac-related emergencies are the leading causes of firefighter fatalities annually. Any firefighter can tell you one of the major contributing factors to cardiac-related issues is tobacco use. With some employers actually offering cessation programs or not even considering hiring tobacco users altogether, one would have to recognize the level of conflict in running such an ad. I struggle trying to convince members who work with me to use the employee tobacco cessation program. Advertisements like this in a magazine that is well recognized make this an even more difficult battle. Fire Engineering has a great responsibility to the members of the fire service. Its messages advocating firefighter safety and well-being are extremely important; ads like this, I feel, undermine the very message the magazine is trying to convey.
Christopher M. Streamo
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