Parents urged to go smoke free

TOWN hall bosses are urging parents to protect their children from second-hand smoke by making their homes smoke-free.

Second-hand smoke has been linked to around 165,000 new cases of disease among children in the UK each year, and evidence shows that being in a smoky atmosphere immediately puts your body under pressure causing sore eyes, coughing and nausea.

It can also cause more serious long-term damage; doubling the chances of developing asthma and increasing the risk of lung cancer or heart disease by around 25 per cent.

The council’s smokefree homes pledge scheme helps residents make the commitment to ban smoking and make their home a healthier place to live for themselves and their families.

Residents can make a silver pledge to only allow smoking in one wellventilated room in the house or go for a gold pledge to make the house totally smoke-free at all times.

Councillor Jacqueline Beswick, Rochdale Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “Secondhand smoke is extremely hazardous to health so making your home smoke-free is a great way to protect your family from some serious and life-limiting conditions.

“Banning smoking in the home could also help your house be cleaner, with no dropped ash or cigarette burns, and your pets could lead healthier lives too.”

For advice and support to stop smoking, contact the stop smoking service on 01706 751190.