Hayward and Fremont Kaiser Permanente Are Smoke-Free

Our Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers in both Fremont and Hayward are totally smoke-free environments.

This means that smoking is prohibited both inside and outside the building, including the parking lots and walkways.

Why be smoke-free?
We've all heard about the dangers of smoking — an increased risk for lung cancer, emphysema, and heart disease.

Secondhand smoke can be just as harmful. Exposure to secondhand smoke can cause lung cancer in healthy non-smokers. And studies show that children of parts who smoke have more respiratory infections, and their lungs develop more slowly.

"Seeing our members — such as expectant mothers, newborns, and people with respiratory illnesses — exposed to secondhand smoke as they visit the Kaiser Medical Center, we decided to change, and we went totally smoke-free," says Jay Murphy, directory of environmental health and safety for Kaiser Permanente's East Bay Service Area.

What can I do if I'm a smoker?
If you're a smoker and you come to our medical center, don't smoke. If you're going to be hospitalized, we'll try to help make your stay easier. Your doctor may prescribe a nicotine patch to reduce withdrawals symptoms.

What can I do to stop smoking?
If you're thinking about quitting for good, we can help.

The Health Education department offers smoking-cessation classes, self-help kits, and videos.

For information about class schedules, please call our Hayward Health Education Department at (510) 784-4531.