GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO PROTECT CHILDREN
FROM SECONDHAND SMOKE
~ Effort Focuses
on Dangers of Parental Smoking in Homes and Cars ~
February 2008
It's a staggering statistic:
700 million children - almost half of the world's youth
- regularly breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke. People
who smoke in confined spaces like the home or the car
subject others to a dangerous mix of toxins and carcinogens
including nicotine, carbon monoxide, and cyanide, even
when the windows are open. Infants and children are
more vulnerable to these poisons than adults because
they breathe faster. Also, these chemicals remain in
children's systems longer because they are less able
to process the poisons. Smoking exposes infants and
children to these chronic health risks:
-
Increases a baby's risk of dying suddenly from
unexplained causes;
-
Contributes to low birth weight in newborns and
harms lung development;
-
Causes bronchitis and pneumonia in young adults;
and
-
Increases risk of ear infections, asthma, coughing
and wheezing among school-aged children
These serious health threats
to children underscore the need for parents around the
world to protect the young from secondhand smoke.
In the first global initiative
of its kind, the International Union Against Cancer
(UICC) and cancer-fighting organizations in every region
will lead a year-long effort to promote smoke-free environments
for children. The effort will begin on World Cancer
Day, February 4, 2008 with these important messages
for parents:
-
Avoid smoking at home or in a car;
-
Caution children to stay away from secondhand
smoke and keep children away from places that allow
smoking;
-
Teach children there is no safe level of secondhand
smoke;
-
Do not smoke while pregnant or in the vicinity
of someone who is pregnant; " Use a smoke-free daycare
center;
-
If you are a smoker, ask your doctor what you
can do to stop; and
-
Become a role model for your child by not smoking
These tips are critical to
giving children a healthy start in life and reducing
their risk of cancer later in life. Parental involvement
is key to protecting the very young. Infants and toddlers
are less able to move away from the source of the smoke
than adults or older children and may be exposed to
secondhand smoke for longer periods of time and at greater
intensity.
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