Several local hospitals became smoke-free Thursday. The move coincides with the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout.

Thursday morning, the gazebo outside Brackenridge Hospital got a makeover.

It used to be a popular place for employees to smoke, but it’s now being redesignated as a non-smoking zone. Crews threw out a can full of cigarette butts that have accumulated there. They’re also repainting the gazebo, to make it more of a healing spot.

Seton, St. David’s, HealthSouth and Warm Springs in Luling are implementing the smoking ban at all of their patient-care campuses. That means employees, visitors and, of course, patients cannot smoke on site.

“Can't smoke at work, can't smoke in the garage. I can't even go across the street and smoke anymore, but that's cool with me. My job is more important,” said Rashon Brent, a Seton employee.

“I really didn't look at it as not being able to. I just used it as a goal. I obviously couldn't set my own goals, so I allowed Seton to set it for me in a round about way,” said Tina Hickman, a Seton employee.

The smoking ban is a welcome initiative for many non-smokers.

“I know when I'm on the elevators, I can tell who does smoke and who doesn't and it bothers me when I smell someone who has smoke on their clothes,” said Dennis Wright, a Seton employee.

The hospitals have been offering employees smoking cessation products and support classes to help them quit.