Western Australia: Don't smoke at home or in your car.

A new campaign by The Cancer Council Western Australia’s Make Smoking History program will encourage parents to make their home and cars smoke free to protect their children from the dangers of second hand smoke. LISTEN
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MEDIA RELEASE May 27, 2007 NEW CAMPAIGN TARGETS SMOKING IN HOMES AND CARS

A new campaign by The Cancer Council Western Australia’s Make Smoking History program will encourage parents to make their home and cars smoke free to protect their children from the dangers of second hand smoke.
The campaign, which starts tonight with television advertisements across the state, targets the general community and, for the first time, Aboriginal families. Denise Sullivan, Director of the Cancer Council’s Tobacco Program, said there was a lack of understanding in the community about passive smoking and the impact of second hand smoke on the health of young children.

“Many smokers believe that opening windows in the car and smoking in separate rooms will protect their children. “The fact is this offers no protection to young children – the only way to ensure a smoke free environment is to smoke outside the house and to not smoke at all in the car.”

She said infants and young children were especially vulnerable to the poisons in secondhand smoke.

“Children exposed to second hand smoke in the home and car are at a much higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), respiratory infections, ear problems, and more severe asthma,” Ms Sullivan said.

Aboriginal health advocate, Lyn Dimer, welcomed the campaign and said it was important that Aboriginal people were included in the advertisements.

“This message is an important one as a lot of people are still smoking in their homes and a lot more are smoking in cars.

“Aboriginal people spend a lot of time travelling in vehicles and don’t always understand the risks – they think it will be OK if they have the windows down.”

In addition to television commercials, pamphlets and stickers, the campaign will also include radio advertisements specifically aimed at Aboriginal parents. 

The campaign is being launched on the eve of World No Tobacco Day, May 31, which this year has the theme ‘Smoke Free Environments’.

“Obviously quitting is the best possible way to protect your family from second hand smoke, but if you are not ready to quit just yet, ensure that no one smokes in your home or car,” Ms Sullivan said.

“It’s up to the adults to look after children as they can’t remove themselves from situations where people are smoking. We hope this campaign will empower parents to implement rules that other family and friends will respect.

Media Contact: Bridget Egan - The Cancer Council WA – 0412 005 22

MEDIA RELEASE May 27, 2007 NEW CAMPAIGN TARGETS SMOKING IN HOMES AND CARS

A new campaign by The Cancer Council Western Australia’s Make Smoking History program will encourage parents to make their home and cars smoke free to protect their children from the dangers of second hand smoke.
The campaign, which starts tonight with television advertisements across the state, targets the general community and, for the first time, Aboriginal families. Denise Sullivan, Director of the Cancer Council’s Tobacco Program, said there was a lack of understanding in the community about passive smoking and the impact of second hand smoke on the health of young children.

“Many smokers believe that opening windows in the car and smoking in separate rooms will protect their children. “The fact is this offers no protection to young children – the only way to ensure a smoke free environment is to smoke outside the house and to not smoke at all in the car.”

She said infants and young children were especially vulnerable to the poisons in secondhand smoke.

“Children exposed to second hand smoke in the home and car are at a much higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), respiratory infections, ear problems, and more severe asthma,” Ms Sullivan said.

Aboriginal health advocate, Lyn Dimer, welcomed the campaign and said it was important that Aboriginal people were included in the advertisements.

“This message is an important one as a lot of people are still smoking in their homes and a lot more are smoking in cars.

“Aboriginal people spend a lot of time travelling in vehicles and don’t always understand the risks – they think it will be OK if they have the windows down.”

In addition to television commercials, pamphlets and stickers, the campaign will also include radio advertisements specifically aimed at Aboriginal parents. 

The campaign is being launched on the eve of World No Tobacco Day, May 31, which this year has the theme ‘Smoke Free Environments’.

“Obviously quitting is the best possible way to protect your family from second hand smoke, but if you are not ready to quit just yet, ensure that no one smokes in your home or car,” Ms Sullivan said.

“It’s up to the adults to look after children as they can’t remove themselves from situations where people are smoking. We hope this campaign will empower parents to implement rules that other family and friends will respect.

Media Contact: Bridget Egan - The Cancer Council WA – 0412 005 22