Smoking and Vaping make COVID-19 worse. According to the American Lung Association, our lungs rely on the normal defenses in our airways to keep bacteria and viruses from getting a foothold. This includes the normal mucus layer on our airways along with the fine thin hairs or cilia that beat in a pattern to move mucus and debris up and out of our lungs as well as the normal immune cells that live in our airways.
We know that inhaling irritating substances like tobacco smoke and vape emissions affects the ability of this muco-ciliary ladder to function well and disrupts the immune system causing a chronic degree of inflammation in our airways.
The presence of this inflammation in the face of an additional insult like SARS-CoV2 makes it harder for our lungs to combat the invading virus and sets up the risk for many severe complications of the infection.
Harmonic Convergence
This PSA was produced by Rakiyah Lenon for an experiential learning competition organized by the Georgia Cancer Center and the COMM 3030 - Audiovisual Communication course. A panel of judges with expertise in communication, video production, public relations and public health selected this PSA, entitled "What About Next Year," as the winner of the "Harmonic Convergence - Best Overall" category.
Best Message
This PSA was produced by Samaria Douglas-Alleyne for an experiential learning competition organized by the Georgia Cancer Center and the COMM 3030 - Audiovisual Communication course. A panel of judges with expertise in communication, video production, public relations and public health selected this PSA, entitled "Be a Friend that Frees a Friend," as the winner of the "Best Message/Representation of Theme" category.
Best Storytelling & Storyline Originality
This PSA was produced by Maggie Ristroph for an experiential learning competition organized by the Georgia Cancer Center and the COMM 3030 - Audiovisual Communication course. A panel of judges with expertise in communication, video production, public relations and public health selected this PSA, entitled "It’s Not Cool to JUUL," as the winner of the "Storytelling & Storyline Originality" category.
Humor
This PSA was produced by Kaeshon King for an experiential learning competition organized by the Georgia Cancer Center and the COMM 3030 - Audiovisual Communication course. A panel of judges with expertise in communication, video production, public relations and public health selected this PSA, entitled "Health Before Death," as the winner of the "Humor" category.
Creative Concept in Music Application
This PSA was produced by Justin Williams for an experiential learning competition organized by the Georgia Cancer Center and the COMM 3030 - Audiovisual Communication course. A panel of judges with expertise in communication, video production, public relations and public health selected this PSA, entitled "Checkmate for COVID," as the winner of the "Creative Concept in Music Application" category.
Videography
This PSA was produced by Kiara Heffner for an experiential learning competition organized by the Georgia Cancer Center and the COMM 3030 - Audiovisual Communication course. A panel of judges with expertise in communication, video production, public relations and public health selected this PSA, entitled "COVID Coping, Stop Smoking," as the winner of the "Videography" category.
