Smoking remains major danger to children

Aug 6 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

STEVE RYAN, medical director at Alder Hey hospital, says in general children are growing up in a safer environment than 20 years ago, but the one area the consultant paediatrician has not seen improvement in is exposure to cigarette smoke.

As a way of addressing the issue, the hospital has now become part of the SmokeFree Kids campaign, the latest arm of SmokeFree Liverpool’s battle against cigarette exposure. He said: “Parents will protect their children from anything, yet it is different for smoking for some reason. They will allow their children to have that exposure.

“We know it affects children coming into the hospital. It makes it more likely that children will come here unwell with conditions like asthma, chest infections and bronchitis. Many would not have these problems if their parents had not smoked around them.

“Generally the health of children has improved.

“The immunisations that we have brought in for example: there is a lot less meningitis, less children come in with pneumonia, and less with severe injuries from accidents as well, children grow up in a much safer environment.

“But the one thing that really has not moved on is the exposure to cigarette smoke.” Gaynor Slater, 36, from Litherland gave up smoking in February. She wanted to protect her 11-year-old daughter from the harmful health effects and also felt she had to lead by example: “Jade is just about to start secondary school and when I look back, that was when I started noticing people smoking and was influenced.

“My dad smoked and so did others around me and so it was excusable in a way for me to start.

“The last thing I want is for my daughter to start smoking and that was a big reason to quit.

“Jade has been telling me I should give up for a while. I think it worried her and now she is really proud of me.”

Gaynor’s father, Keith Sandon, also gave up smoking after having a heart attack and the pair have encouraged each other to stay on track.

They were helped by services provided by Sefton PCT, and encouragement from specifically trained nurses.