Oregon Smoke Free OR Day Held February 4, 2020

On Tuesday, February 4, Oregon legislators met with surgical team members advocating for smoke-free operating rooms in the state. Smoke Free OR Lobby Day was a day of advocacy and recognition for the important jobs surgical team members do as they ensure the health and safety of everyone in the OR.

Rep. Sheri Schouten, a registered nurse, kicked off the day with words of advice and encouragement for advocates in Salem to urge their legislators to support HB 4064. Later that morning the group was recognized by the Oregon State Senate during their floor session. Advocates met with legislators all afternoon to explain the danger of surgical smoke, the solution to the problem of surgical smoke, and the need for legislation in Oregon to ensure that hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers have a policy requiring the evacuation of surgical smoke.