Scotland - campaigners want more to be done to protect young people from passive smoking..

March 29, 2010 - CAMPAIGNERS yesterday called for more to be done to protect young people from passive smoking (second hand smoke, SHS, involuntary smoking, sidestream smoke, environmental tobacco smoke, ETS). Sheila Duffy, the chief executive of Ash Scotland, used the fourth anniversary of the introduction of the ban on smoking in public places (6am on Sunday March 26, 2006) to urge more action.

On March 24th the Scottish government said there were currently no plans to ban smoking in private cars and public areas used by children. This comments came in a response to a report by the Royal College of Physicians. It said smoking in cars was an "important and persistent" factor in exposing children to cigarette smoke.

The charity wants to see a "positive" campaign aimed at encouraging adults not to light up when children are present.

Ash Scotland is also calling for increased awareness of the dangers of second-hand smoke. Ms Duffy said this had been linked to a number of health problems in youngsters, including respiratory problems, asthma and sudden infant death syndrome. She added there were about 300,000 children under the age of 13 living with at least one parent who smoked.

"Raising awareness is essential if we are to change Scotland's public health record," she said.

Reference: 'Young need more protection from smoking', Scotsman.com, 3/26/2010.

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