Protecting our children’s future
We all want what’s best for our children. We want to provide them the best and happiest childhood we can and help them achieve their full potential in later life. Sadly many children in Scotland and Northern Ireland are having their health and life chances blighted by exposure to second hand smoke. This can take place in the family home, in the car. For some it even starts to take place before they’re born.
- Smoking while pregnant significantly increases the risk of miscarriage and low birth weight.
- Scotland and Northern Ireland suffer from some of the highest rates of smoking during pregnancy anywhere in the world.
- Babies exposed to second hand smoke within the home have a greatly increased risk sudden infant death (cot death), admission to hospital with asthma or wheeze and adult respiratory diseases including lung cancer and COPD.
- Smoking in another room does little to reduce the spread of second hand smoke around your home. Significant traces of toxins and carcinogens will be found within your clothes.
- Smoking in a car when children are present exposes them to similar levels of second hand smoke as used to be found in smoky pubs.
- Opening the car window has virtually no effect on levels of second hand smoke within the car.
The BLF Children’s Charter is designed to protect the lung health of children and young people by ending their exposure to second hand smoke and ensuring that appropriate medical services exist to provide care and support to all young people affected by lung disease, wherever they live.
How can you support the BLF Children’s Charter?
A quick and easy way of showing your support is by signing our on-line petition. It’s free and will take only a few moments of your time. Please share the link with family and friends.
Alternatively write to your local MP and MSP/MLA asking what they’re going to do to put an end to this problem.
Are you a parent or grandparent who can you join us to campaign for the Children’s Charter? Or a teacher or pupil? If so we’d love to work in partnership with you to develop joint programmes for education or campaigning.
Everyone’s contribution is vital and every voice should be heard. Talk to us. You’ll be amazed at what we can achieve together.
