Smoking ban protects adults but children still at risk in homes and cars

To highlight National No Smoking Day, which takes place this year on Wednesday, 1 March, the Irish Cancer Society has announced results of a national survey (1) of 1200 respondents showing that 20% of smokers smoke every day in a room at home with children present. While an encouraging 82% of smokers surveyed believed that it was "very harmful" for children to be exposed to second-hand smoke, only three in ten of those smokers with children claimed that all the rooms in their house were kept "smoke-free."

The survey also shows that there is considerable misunderstanding among smokers with regard to the established health risks of second-hand smoke to children and the role-modelling effect that their smoking can have on children, with:

Speaking about the new survey, the Irish Cancer Society’s Health Promotion Manager for Tobacco Control, Norma Cronin, commented "We are seriously concerned by these findings and so, for National No Smoking Day this year, the Irish Cancer Society is launching a new booklet, "Growing up smoke-free," which highlights the importance of protecting the younger generation from the dangers of second-hand smoke, particularly in the home and in the car".

"Since the introduction of the smoking ban in March 2004, employees and the public have been protected from the harmful and toxic effects of second-hand smoke in the workplace but many of our children, who are particularly vulnerable to the harm as their organs and immune systems are not fully developed, are still at risk. Many smokers seem to think that the hazard of second-hand smoke is reduced by such measures as opening a window, smoking in another room from the children, or smoking only when they are not present but we know that none of these measures is as effective as restricting the smoking to outdoors," she continued.

Smoking is the most preventable cause of cancer. It is responsible for 30% of all cancers. On National No Smoking Day this year, the Irish Cancer Society reminds all smokers that there are also immediate health benefits to quitting and that children of smokers who quit will be healthier, breathing in smoke-free air.

As well as offering support and advice to those wishing to quit through the National Smokers' Quitline (1850 201 203) the Irish Cancer Society also offers the following tips to minimise children’s exposure to second-hand smoke:

- Never smoke around your children

- Make your home and care smoke-free

- Smoke outdoors

- Ask children’s carers not to smoke around your children

Copies of the new "Growing up smoke-free" booklet and an accompanying poster are available free of charge from the Irish Cancer Society Health Promotion Department, tel: 01 231 0539 or on its website: www.cancer.ie

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If you would like to stop smoking call the National Smokers’ Quitline on 1850 201 203, open 8am to 10pm, seven days a week for free advice, support and information. The Department of Health and Children runs the Quitline in partnership with the Irish Cancer Society.

Date: 1 March 2006