VANISHING CONSEQUENCES
Although a person can never physically be the same after smoking, it is possible to diminish some of the damage done by tobacco products.
Supplies:
Food Coloring of Assorted Colors
A Clear Glass Container filled with Water
Clear Container with Bleach
Towel or Plastic Tablecloth to Protect Display Surface
Directions:
The presenter begins the demonstration by introducing the water-filled container as pure and clear, like your body before you use tobacco products.
After a short period of using tobacco products they start to turn your clean healthy body into a sticky ugly mess. Put a few drops of red and green food coloring into the water. Stir it around and explain that this dirty brown color is what clings to all your organs and even affects your skin, hair and nails. Drop a few drops of blue in the water and stir, as the color turns darker explain that the longer or heavier you smoke or dip the greater the side effects.
Explain to your audience, even if they do use tobacco products there is hope.
1. Put a few drops of bleach water in the colored water, stir, and explain that within 20 minutes of stopping tobacco use your blood pressure and pulse rate return to normal.
2. Put another small amount of bleach into the water and tell the group after 8 hours without smoking your blood oxygen levels have increased to normal limits.
3. Add a little more bleach and tell the group after 48 hours your sense of smell and taste begin returning to normal.
4. Add a little more bleach and explain that 1 year after quitting your risk of heart disease is less than half that of a smoker.
5. Add the remainder of the bleach to your water and stir; the color should be almost clear and explain that 15 years after quitting tobacco products your overall risk of death has returned to nearly that of a person who never smoked. Tell the group even though this is wonderful, reiterate the fact that it took 15 years for your body to return to normal.
Use this opportunity to encourage anyone who uses tobacco products to STOP and those that are tobacco free to stay that way.
Tip: In an auditorium, a large vase or pitcher may be seen easier than a small glass jar, which is ideal for the classroom. Adjust your food color and bleach to the amount of water used. You should practice this before presentation so you will have the right amount of color and bleach needed to be effective.
Feel free to modify each activity based on participant size
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