JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- All hospitals in Duval, Clay and Nassau counties have agreed to be entirely tobacco-free by November.

The Mayo Clinic and St. Vincent's are already smoke-free. All campuses of Baptist Medical Center, Memorial Hospital, Orange Park Medical Center, Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center, Wolfson's Children's Hospital, along with Brooks Rehabilitation and Specialty Hospital of Jacksonville pledged to ban all consumption of tobacco from their property by Nov. 20, the date of the annual Great American Smokeout.

"These health care providers are to be applauded for uniting to provide healthy environments for their patients, employees and visitors," Mayor John Peyton said Tuesday as representatives from each hospital met at City Hall. "This cooperative effort demonstrates not only a commitment to the health of the entire community, but also what can be accomplished when organizations come together for the greater good."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about 90 percent of nonsmokers in the United States are exposed to secondhand smoke.

Tobacco smoke contains at least 40 chemicals known to cause cancer, and the American Lung Association credits it with about 3,400 lung cancer deaths each year.

The American Heart Association estimates that secondhand smoke may cause as many as 69,000 heart disease deaths in adult nonsmokers yearly.

"Smoking is now the country's leading cause of preventable death, responsible for the premature death of nearly a half million Americans each year," said Dr. Bob Harmon, director of the Duval County Health Department. "By joining the ranks of the more than 1,000 hospitals nationwide who have implemented smoke-free policies, our hospitals are not only doing the right thing, but also setting a strong example for other businesses in our region."

The hospitals will use the next four months to prepare patients, employees, families and visitors for the tobacco-free transition. For those who smoke and want to quit, assistance will be offered in supporting their efforts.

For more information, visit Duval County Health Department's Web site.