Parents urged to stub out smoking in the car
NEW mums are helping to encourage parents to stub out smoking behind the wheel.
Women who have just given birth to their babies at the Women and Children's Hospital in Hull have joined the campaign Smoke-free Cars.
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supporting the cause: New mum Mary Joy Ramil with baby Heaven-Ace and midwife Fiona Robinson at the launch of Smoke-free Cars at the Women and Children's Hospital in Hull. Picture: Simon Renilson
Parents of every newborn baby in Hull and the East Riding will receive hard-hitting facts and information on the dangers of exposing babies and young children to tobacco smoke.
Mary-Joy Ramil, who gave birth to her daughter Heaven-Ace on Monday, said: "My husband and I don't smoke but I wanted to support this campaign because I feel it is important to protect babies from harm caused by smoking in the car."
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Babies and children are vulnerable to the effects of secondhand smoke because they are smaller, have developing lungs and immune systems and they breathe more rapidly, inhaling more chemicals and gases from the smoke.
Exposure to cigarette smoke can increase the risk of asthma, pneumonia, ear infections and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
The Smoke-free Cars pack also contains contact details for the free NHS Hull and East Riding Stop Smoking Service to give parents support if they wish to quit smoking.
Nicola Wood, of NHS East Riding of Yorkshire, said: "Children have the right to be protected from exposure to secondhand smoke.
"Parents must recognise that secondhand smoke causes ill- health in babies and children and that they have a responsibility to protect the health of their children and keep them from harm.
"This is a great opportunity to reach every parent with a newborn baby in Hull and the East Riding and deliver a clear message to protect their children from tobacco smoke."
The campaign highlights the dangers faced by babies and children if their parents smoke in the car, even with a window open.
In-car concentrations of smoke can be up to 27 times greater than in a smoker's home and smoke is blown into the back of the car, where children sit, if the window is open.
More than 17,000 children under five years old are admitted to hospital every year in the UK and 300,000 children visit their GP every year in the UK due to the effects of secondhand tobacco smoke.
Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals midwife Fiona Robinson said she talks to pregnant women about the dangers of smoking in cars.
She said: "Many people don't realise how concentrated smoke can be in the car – even with the windows open.
"We worked together with Public Health to develop some eye-catching products that can be used in the car to reinforce the safety message, and the packs seem to have gone down well so far with families at the hospital."
Comments
by smartguy1
Friday, August 17 2012, 10:09PM
“Hey to all you smokers out there. If I managed to stop after 30 years you can do it too. I enjoyed smoking but worked out that for every packet of fags I was giving £5 a day to the government. Now I am not rich enough to do a Jimmy Carr and evade my taxes but £1500 a year on top of my income tax, NI, VAT, Council Tax, Fuel Duty and Insurance Premium Tax was getting a bit much. I didn't mind giving the £1.50 to the retailer, distributor and manufacturer but the government is pressing for everyone to stop smoking so they won with me but then I'm saving £1500 a year until such time that loads more give up and they will start taxing something else. By then all of us non smokers will be paying the 'lost tobacco duty' in some other tax. Oh well at least I don't smell of smoke anymore because if you smoke then you smell of smoke. It's in your clothes, it's in your hair, it's on your skin. Your car will smell if you smoke in it even with the window open. I used to smoke in the utility room at the back of the house with the back door open yet my daughter could open the front door and smell smoke straight away.
I bought some electronic cigarettes, set a date and stopped. I still use the electronic cigarette now and then but it worked for me. No patches, no gum, a little gain in weight by a few pounds and £150 a month better off. Wished I gave up years ago.
I sill fancy a cig now and then and probably have the willpower to have one and leave it at that. I get asked if I want one at work and say no. It's quite easy really. First week is the worst and then just gets easier. The electronic cigs are a good substitute. It's not a cheat because it's getting you off the tobacco plus all the other harmful chemicals they put in them but if you must smoke please don't smoke around your children or grandchildren.”
by CReader
Friday, August 17 2012, 9:47PM
“When will members of the smoking club wake up and get it??!!
Smoking is scientifically proven to be a huge risk for chest disease (including lung cancer and COPD), heart disease, throat cancer, oral cancer, ear infections (including otitis media with effusion...aka "glue ear"), sudden infant death syndrome (cot death), premature birth, low birthweight and, finally, bronchiolitis (which can kill an infant).
Not only are smokers putting their own life in danger, but also the lives of all those who they smoke around in danger too.....including their children.
The biggest risk to smokers and their children is the inane denial they have that their hobby is dangerous. It is no coincidence that smokers have, on average, the shortest life spans and the most miserable old age. Who wants to spend the last three years of their life on home oxygen because their lungs have been poisoned for decades? They support their denial by recounting stories of smokers who die in their 90's....a very rare occassion.
Cancer sticks PLUS children EQUALS stupidity.”
by SJABLONSKI
Friday, August 17 2012, 7:24PM
“http://tinyurl.com/c52x2nt”
by SJABLONSKI
Friday, August 17 2012, 2:27PM
“smoking whilst driveing should be illegal.
just like mobile phones not in full control of the vehicle with both hands and most throw the but out of the window.
also what if the end falls off and burns them or the ash blows in there eye it could cause a accident
sounds far fetched but i even know 1 person who used this as a excuse when they crashed a vehicle whilst driving with not due care. excuse ash blew in my eye..”
by DukeofFlange
Friday, August 17 2012, 2:24PM
“What...business...is...it...of...yours?”
by horbaczewski
Friday, August 17 2012, 1:15PM
“I hate to see parents smoking over little children, so sad...new babies have a lovely smell to them and it shouldn't be cigarette smoke.”
by zziplex1
Friday, August 17 2012, 12:33PM
“Anyone lighting up in a car while they have a baby/babies with them should not be called parents but abusers. They may aswell just give the child/children a fag.”