Protect our kids

The call comes after 16,000 people signed a petition to show their support, many of whom are from Northern Ireland.

Passive smoking is a leading cause of death and disease in children and over 300,000 children across the UK visit their GP every year with a passive smoking related illness.

The British Lung Foundation campaign is focusing on passive smoking around children in the car because research shows that smoking just one cigarette, even with the car window open, creates a greater concentration of second-hand smoke than a whole evening smoking in a pub or a bar.

Research shows that 26% of all individuals in Northern Ireland currently smoke. Furthermore between 2700 and 3000 people die every year from tobacco use. Exposing children to passive smoke is a worrying concern and action needs to be taken to protect children’s developing lungs.

Children should be able to enjoy a smoke-free environment both inside and outside the home. They have a right to air free from pollution and it is the duty of parents, carers and indeed all of us to act as a voice on their behalf.

Every person who signs this petition will be doing a great service to the future health of our children’s lungs.

As the leading UK charity supporting everyone affected by a lung disease, the British Lung Foundation, is urging all those who want to protect children’s lungs to sign our petition at www.lunguk.org.