Residents are being encouraged to protect their children and pets from secondhand smoke by making their homes and cars smoke free.
The Smokefree Homes and Cars campaign, which launches on August 26, encourages everyone to sign the pledge to make their home and car smoke free.
Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of secondhand smoke which increases risk of cot death, glue ear, asthma and other respiratory diseases. Exposure to secondhand smoke results in around 9,500 children being admitted to hospital each year.
From October 1 it will be illegal to smoke in a car containing passengers who are under the age of 18.
Claire Mead, coordinator of the CAMQUIT Stop Smoking Service, said: “Around two million children in the UK are estimated to be regularly exposed to secondhand smoke in the home. I would encourage people to sign the pledge. The only effective way to protect children from secondhand smoke exposure is to make homes and cars smoke free.”
To sign the pledge or for more information visit www.camquit.nhs.uk or contact CAMQUIT on 0800 018 4304.
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