Wrexham Assembly Member, Lesley Griffiths, has spoken of her support for a Welsh Government campaign which urges Welsh parents and carers to not smoke in cars carrying children.
The Fresh Start Wales campaign aims to raise awareness of the potential harm smoking in confined spaces such as car interiors can pose to children and young people.
Studies have shown that second hand smoke in a confined space such as a car can reach levels almost 30 times as harmful as those in a normal household where the adults smoke indoors.
This can significantly raises the risk of developing the Cancer and other conditions associated with passive smoking later in life. The Welsh Government has discussed the future possibility of a ban on smoking in cars, should educational campaigns fail to change behaviour.
Speaking on the launch of Fresh Start Wales, Lesley Griffiths said:
“It is important to raise awareness just how harmful smoking in a car can be upon children and the Fresh Start Wales campaign has my full backing.
“Landmark campaigns on smoking whilst pregnant successfully raised the awareness of and stigma associated with such behaviour in decades past.
“Now, this campaign is aiming to educate people over the harm they can cause by keeping children in smoked filled tight spaces such as cars.
“The message is simple, if you must smoke and have children in your car; wait until your journey’s end to light up or you risk their health.
“This is an area where a shift in attitude is urgently required for the safety and well-being of the next generation.”
For more information about the campaign log on to www.freshstartwales.co.uk.
