INDIANAPOLIS (BUSINESS WIRE) - As America looks to firefighters for help, support and leadership like never before, one fire department is initiating a new campaign that it hopes will catch on in cities across the nation.

Starting on November 15th, the date of the American Cancer Society's 25th annual Great American Smokeout(R), the Indianapolis, Indiana Fire Department (I.F.D.) will prohibit the use of all tobacco products in all 26 of its firehouses. Many firefighters will be giving up their cigarettes for at least a day, and hopefully for a lifetime. This unprecedented act is part of "Tobacco Free in I.F.D.," a groundbreaking program that Indianapolis' firefighters hope will help and inspire them, their colleagues and all Americans to quit smoking altogether. "The goal of this effort is two-fold," said Louis Dezelan, Chief of the IFD. "Not only do we want to improve the health and quality of life of our firefighters, we also want to set a positive example for the community -- especially for those young people who look to firefighters as role models." A recent survey commissioned by the American Cancer Society found that approximately one-third of all current smokers in the United States have started smoking more cigarettes since the tragic events of September 11th. However, 78 percent of those who have changed their smoking habits since September 11th indicated that they are interested in quitting smoking for good. "Tobacco Free in I.F.D." is designed to help firefighters do just that, by providing them with the tools necessary for a successful quit attempt. "It's no surprise that the stress brought on by the recent terrorist attacks prompted many Americans to increase smoking, and no profession was impacted more than the fire service," said Saul Shiffman, Ph.D., Director of the Smoking Research Group at the University of Pittsburgh. "While it's extremely encouraging to see that many smokers are interested in quitting, it's a difficult goal to achieve without any support -- and that's what makes this program exciting." As part of the "Tobacco Free in I.F.D." program, members of the I.F.D. and their spouses who are interested in quitting smoking can receive free smoking cessation counseling, and those who commit to quit for the Great American Smokeout will receive free Nicorette(R) and NicoDerm(R) CQ(R) starter kits from GlaxoSmithKline, providers of these stop smoking products. "We're very excited about this program and its potential benefits," explained Dezelan. "That's why we are challenging firefighters and all Americans across the country to join us by removing tobacco from the fire service and from our lives." The I.F.D. is one of ten fire departments in the United States and Canada involved in a 5- year-old health and wellness program committed to promoting wellness and fitness in the fire service. Other fire departments involved in this program include those in Austin, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle and Calgary. According to Chief Dezelan, the I.F.D. is one of the first members of this group to develop a program designed to remove tobacco from fire service, which is one of the primary issues identified by this initiative. The American Cancer Society is the nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service. For more information about the American Cancer Society and its programs, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit the American Cancer Society Web site (http://www.cancer.org). Created in 1976, the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout is an opportunity for smokers to give up their cigarettes for at least a day and hopefully for a lifetime. GlaxoSmithKline is sponsoring the Commit To Quit(R) plan and the Great American Smokeout as part of a partnership with the American Cancer Society to educate smokers about quitting smoking. GlaxoSmithKline originated the over-the-counter (OTC) nicotine replacement therapy category with the FDA approval of Nicorette(R) nicotine gum and continues to lead the market after the introduction of original and clear NicoDerm(R) CQ(R) nicotine patch, Nicorette(R) Mint gum and, most recently, the FDA approval of Nicorette(R) Orange gum. For more information about the 2001 Great American Smokeout and the latest stop smoking aids, please visit http://www.quitnet.com. GlaxoSmithKline -- one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies -- is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare makes an annual grant to the American Cancer Society for stop smoking education and cancer-related research in return for the use of their seal.

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