More than 440,000 Americans die each year as a result of using tobacco, according to a radio ad released this week by Howells Community Catholic Schools and Tobacco Free Colfax County.

Tobacco contains more than 4,000 harmful chemicals, according to the ad. Stopping smoking can help the person who smokes and others, as well, students who produced the ad share.  Secondhand smoke can cause cancer. 

The spot is one of four spots produced as a result of a contest by Tobacco Free Platte County and Tobacco Free Colfax County. The contest recognizes Kick Butts Day, a national day sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. This is the 16th annual Kick Butts Day. The day is a national day designed to promote tobacco free kids.

The ads are being aired this week in the Columbus and Central City, Nebraska, areas.

Secondhand smoke hurts your friendships, your lungs, and your heart. And it can lead to your death.

That's the message of today's featured radio ad. This ad is the second of four ads that took a winning place in a contest sponsored by Tobacco Free Platte County and Tobacco Free Colfax County. 

The radio spot is presented by St. Anthony's Catholic School in Columbus and the Tobacco Free Platte County Coalition. The four winning ads are being aired in the Platte and Colfax county area this week.

The ads are part of an effort recognizing Kick Butts Day, which is today. Kick Butts Day is a national effort sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. Today is the 16th annual Kick Butts Day. Events are planned across Nebraska and in all 50 states.

Howells Community Catholic Schools and the Tobacco Free Colfax County coalition present a radio spot recorded to highlight the dangers of secondhand smoke.

This radio spot is one of four that are being aired this week in the Platte and Colfax county areas. It was chosen as a winner of contest to engage youth in reducing tobacco use run by Tobacco Free Platte County and Tobacco Free Colfax County to recognize Kick Butts Day.

Four radio spots were chosen as winners of the contest. In recognition of Kick Butts Day, one radio spot will be recognized at healtheducation.org each day this week.

Kick Butts Day, Wednesday, March 23, is a day of activism that empowers youth to take action against tobacco use at more than 2,000 events from coast to coast. Kick Butts Day was initiated in 1995 by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.