Government adverts warn of danger to children's health of second-hand smoke

The Department of Health’s (DoH) eight week campaign, which includes print, radio and TV advertisements, will show that smoking by a window or the backdoor is not enough to protect children from second hand smoke.

According to the DOH, more than 80 per cent of second-hand smoke is invisible.

Millions of children in the UK are exposed to second-hand smoke that puts them at increased risk of lung disease, meningitis and cot death. This results in over 300,000 GP visits and 9,500 hospital visits in the UK each year, costing the NHS more than £23.6 million.

A survey of 1,000 children on behalf of the DoH found that 98 per cent of respondents said they wanted their parents would stop smoking.

It also revealed that 41 per cent of children reported that cigarette smoke made them feel ill, and 42 per cent said smoke made them cough.

Chief medical officer professor Dame Sally Davies, said, ‘Second hand smoke can cause a range of serious health problems for children and adults.  Smoking damages our lungs, causes cancers and is now the biggest risk for cot death.  Parents who smoke need to think about the effect it has on their family.

‘Giving up smoking or making sure you have a completely smoke free home and car is the only way to protect your family.’

Professor Terence Stephenson, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said, ‘ It’s certainly a good thing that Government has recognised that in order to protect children’s health, we need to expose just how damaging smoke in a confined environment is for children. Levels of tobacco smoke in a car can be even higher than in a smoky bar and second-hand smoke has been strongly linked to chest infections in children asthma, ear problems and cot deaths.’

He added, ‘We have long campaigned on this issue and today’s announcement is a significant victory.  But when it comes to smoking in cars when children are present, we are calling on government to now go the extra mile and make it illegal.

He added, ‘You can’t smoke in public places anymore.  You can’t inflict your smoke on your colleagues.  So why should you be allowed to inflict it on children?’