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Smoking in Cars - Factsheet (PDF)
Read a matte article on why we must protect kids from smoky cars (PDF)
NEWS RELEASE
Our Kids Deserve It: BC Lung Association Launches National Push For Smoke-Free Cars
British Columbians urged to visit cleanairforkids.ca to take action
January 23, 2008: The BC Lung Association today launched "Stop Smoking in Cars! Our Kids Deserve It!" – a nation-wide campaign designed to help British Columbians push government to ban smoking in cars when children are present.
The Association wants the BC government to ensure people “butt out” if they are driving with kids.
British Columbians are urged to visit www.cleanairforkids.ca and send a message directly to their provincial representative, Health Minister and Premier. The campaign will run until December 31, 2008.
Scott McDonald, Executive Director of the BC Lung Association, believes the vast majority of British Columbians would support a ban on smoking in cars when children are present. “It is not acceptable that some children are involuntarily exposed to second-hand smoke in cars – it’s a serious public health issue that needs to be addressed.”
According to Statistics Canada, in 2003, the proportion of 12 year olds regularly exposed to second-hand smoke in private vehicles was 17 percent*. Additionally, according to the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey from Statistics Canada, 19 percent of non-smokers 12 to 17 years old were regularly exposed to second-hand smoke in private vehicles**.
Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 dangerous chemicals and carcinogens. Second-hand smoke in vehicles is especially potent when it is concentrated in a confined space.
Research shows that children exposed to second-hand smoke are at a higher risk for many health problems.
Children and babies who are exposed to second hand smoke on a regular basis are at higher risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), asthma, and ear infections. They are also more likely to develop cancer and heart disease as adults. Second-hand smoke can make symptoms worse for kids who have asthma or a respiratory infection. Additionally, there is growing evidence that kids who are exposed to second-hand smoke before and after birth have more behaviour problems, shorter attention spans, and lower marks at school than their peers who aren’t exposed to smoke.
Established more than a 100 year ago, the BC Lung Association is one of Canada’s oldest and most respected health charities, and the leading organization for science-based information, research, education, support programs and advocacy on lung heath issues. For more information on the Association, please visit www.bc.lung.ca.
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To order a copy of this poster call the Lung Association at 604.731.LUNG. |
References:
*Perez, Claudio. "Second-Hand Smoke Exposure: Who's at Risk", in Health Reports, Volume 16, No. 1 (October 2004), pp. 9-18. Statistics Canada, 82-003. Available as a PDF download from the Statistics Canada website: http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=82-003-X&CHROPG=1. Accessed January 22, 2008.
**Results from Statistics Canada 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey, as summarized in Shields, Margot, "An update on smoking from the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey", tables 12 and 13. Available from the Statistics Canada website: http://www.statcan.ca/english/research/82-621-XIE/2006002/smoking.htm#source. Accessed January 22, 2008.
For further information or to arrange an interview, media representatives may contact:
For more information contact:
Katrina van Bylandt
Communications Manager, BC Lung Association
T 604.731.5864
TF 1.800.665.5864
E vanbylandt@bc.lung.ca