Nursery World - Nurseries urge parents to quit smoking

Nurseries are encouraging parents to sign a pledge not to smoke at home, in a pilot NHSscheme in Glasgow aimed at protecting children's health. Around 80 nurseries in the city's East End have given out leaflets for 4,000 children to take home to their parents with basic information on secondhand smoke. Parents who sign up to a 'gold pledge' must agree to a smoke-free home, while those signing up to a 'silver pledge' are limited to smoking in only one room in the house.

Around 80 nurseries in the city's East End have given out leaflets for 4,000 children to take home to their parents with basic information on secondhand smoke. Parents who sign up to a 'gold pledge' must agree to a smoke-free home, while those signing up to a 'silver pledge' are limited to smoking in only one room in the house.

Parents opting for the gold pledge are entered into a prize draw for 100 of DIY vouchers.

If the scheme proves successful it is expected to go city-wide.

Brenda McConnell, a tobacco health promotion officer at Greater Glasgow NHS Board, said, 'Up to 17,000 UK children under five get admitted to hospital every year because of the effects of secondhand smoke. A lot of people just aren't aware of the effects.'

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