Keep Cars and Homes Smokefree

17 January 2014

Individuals and organisations in the Taranaki region are being urged to support a smokefree cars and homes campaign.

More than 350 New Zealanders die each year due to exposure to second-hand smoke, said Taranaki District Health Board Health Promoter Carly Twaddle.

 “Reducing exposure to second hand smoke in cars and homes is one way we can really make a difference to preventing smoke-related illnesses and deaths.”

“Children are particularly vulnerable to second-hand smoke due to their smaller lungs and lower body weight and often do not have the choice to move away from smoke,” she said.

“Children need to be protected from second-hand smoke as much as possible as it can cause middle ear infections, lower respiratory illnesses and sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI also known as SIDS or cot death)”

Ms Twaddle said second-hand smoke was the leading environmental cause of death in this country. There was no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke and those who were exposed may suffer from many of the same diseases as regular smokers, such as coronary heart disease, lung cancer, acute stroke, eye and nasal irritation and nasal sinus cancer.

The campaign has been developed by the Health Promotion Agency (HPA) and is a refresh of earlier work. Radio advertising began in December and television advertisements will air from 19 January 2014 to 3 February 2014.

Useful tips on keeping your car and home Smokefree are available at www.smokefree.org.nz/second-hand-smoke

For help to quit smoking call 0800 778 778 to speak to a Quit Advisor or visit www.quit.org.nz

For more information please call

Sue Carrington
Media Adviser
Ph 021 367 789

Last updated: Friday, January 17, 2014