Babies born at Great Plains Regional Medical Center (GPRMC) will soon be getting a stylish new bib, with an important message, to add to Mom and Dad’s arsenal of anti-laundry weaponry.

The Community Connections-Tobacco Free Lincoln County Coalition will be providing newborn babies at GPRMC with bibs that say, “Tender Lungs at Work-Thank you for not smoking,” in an effort to reduce involuntary exposure to secondhand smoke.

Community Connections Coordinator, George Haws, said, “We are especially concerned about little children.” He added, “They are growing rapidly and breath more air for their body size than the rest of us do.”

The release of the bibs corresponds with the 50th Anniversary of the first Surgeon General’s report on smoking and health in 1964.

Haws said, “A lot has been learned since then about the dangers of using tobacco and about the harm caused by secondhand smoke.”

Research has shown that exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of premature death, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), learning difficulties, asthma and other health problems.

Haws hopes the bibs will serve as a reminder to parents and caregivers that we need clean air to breathe, especially the children.