Month: October 2022

Stoptober 2022

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Stoptober is an annual initiative that encourages smokers to refrain from smoking for 28 days in October to serve as a stepping stone to permanently quitting.1 Bedfont® Scientific Ltd has been helping people stop smoking for over 35 years with their Smokerlyzer® range, which gives users instant Carbon Monoxide (CO) readings using a motivational traffic light system to guide them towards their quit goal.

Statistics from the NHS show that in 2020, 506,100 hospital admissions were attributable to smoking2, which is 10% higher than 2009/10. However, thanks to stop smoking efforts and tools such as the Smokerlyzer®, in just over 10 years, UK deaths attributable to smoking have decreased by 9%2, although a figure of 74,600 deaths2 is still very alarming.

By analysing a breath sample, the Smokerlyzer® can tell how much CO is in your lungs and blood that has been inhaled from smoking. Smoking builds high levels of CO in the blood, which can lead to heart disease, circulation problems, and high blood pressure. The Smokerlyzer® is a useful tool for Stop Smoking Services to establish a smoker’s status, whilst acting as a motivational visual aid to encourage patients to quit smoking and to measure their progress whilst doing so, helping individuals kick their tobacco habit, preventing cancers and other smoking related diseases attributed to smoking tobacco.

An assessment of cigarette smokers using a CO monitor by Marler et al. (2020), found that 75.3% reported the CO monitoring increased their motivation to quit, over 90% of smokers indicated the CO monitor taught them about their CO levels and their smoking behaviour, and 73.1% reported that seeing their CO levels made them want to quit smoking.3

Visit www.https://www.bedfont.com/smokerlyzer to learn more about how you can aid patients to stop smoking, one breath at a time, with the Smokerlyzer® range this Stoptober.

References:

1. What is Stoptober? [Internet]. Thestoptober.co.uk. 2022 [cited 23 September 2022]. Available from: https://thestoptober.co.uk/what-is-stoptober/

2. Digital N, Statistics on Smoking E, Smoking S, Statistics on Smoking E, tables S, Author C. Statistics on Smoking, England 2020 – NHS Digital [Internet]. NHS Digital. 2022 [cited 19 October 2022]. Available from: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/statistics-on-smoking/statistics-on-smoking-england-2020

3. Marler JD, Fujii CA, Wong KS, Galanko JA, Balbierz DJ, and Utley DS. Assessment of a personal interactive carbon monoxide breath sensor in people who smoke cigarettes: single-arm cohort study. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2020;22(10):1-24. PMID: 32894829 PMCID: PMC7568220 DOI: 10.2196/22811.

Bedfont’s excellent Work/Life balance acknowledged with 3 awards by Kent County Council (KCC)

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Kent Family Business, Bedfont® Scientific Ltd., have been awarded Bronze, Silver, and Gold Kent and Medway Healthy Workplace Awards.

In 2022, Bedfont® joined the Healthy Workplace Programme, which involves building new initiatives and putting the wellbeing of employees at the forefront of the business. Bedfont is pleased to announce it has received 3 awards for their efforts to create a positive workplace environment.

The programme funded by the KCC and Medway Council, helps to support health and wellbeing at work with relevant policies, training and guidance(1). Recent studies have shown that those with a healthy work/life balance have more motivation and are more productive at work(2).

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont®, comments, “As a second-generation family business, Bedfont® has implemented workplace policies that focus on creating a friendly and positive workplace atmosphere with the Bedfont Family at its heart. We have been working hard to achieve a healthy work/life balance for our employees for some time now, and it’s really rewarding for us as an employer to know this has been recognised with the Healthy Workplace Awards. We look forward to continuing and improving upon these efforts, and we have our sights set on the Platinum award next.”

The Kent and Medway awards team, comments, “From the great evidence submitted and interviews conducted, it is evident Bedfont Scientific has created a very social and inclusive organisation which always looks at ways to introduce new initiatives and equally cares for the wellbeing of its customers as much as its staff. Well done to you and all your hard work in making Bedfont Scientific a lovely place to work”

References:

  1. Council M. Kent and Medway Healthy Workplace Programme | Medway Council [Internet]. Medway.gov.uk. 2022 [cited 6 October 2022]. Available from: https://www.medway.gov.uk/healthyworkplace
  2. 10 Statistics on Work-Life Balance That May Surprise You (2022) [Internet]. Apollo Technical LLC. 2022 [cited 23 September 2022]. Available from: https://www.apollotechnical.com/statistics-on-work-life-balance/