Smoke Free Homes

Protect your family, take the smoke outside

Two out of ten households in the South West allow smoking in their home

Our new campaign is urging smokers across the South West to protect their families by taking their smoke outside.

Worrying new research shows that more people are smoking in the home or allowing others to do so with the figure currently standing at over 1 million people (22%) in the South West (YouGov 2011) compared to 20% in 2010. Smokefree South West is launching a multi-media campaign as part of an ongoing programme to halve this number by the year 2015.

It focuses on the danger of smoking in the home and the poisonous chemicals left behind, lingering on sofas, carpets and toys long after the smoke has gone. Toxins from cigarette smoke can harm the health of families and in particular children with their developing immune system.

Dr Gabriel Scally, Director of Public Health for the South West said:

“It’s worrying to see that higher numbers of people are allowing smoking in their home, especially as the number of people smoking in the South West is on the decrease, and, is in fact, now the lowest in the country.

“We need to make parents and other family members aware of the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke that linger in the home. By simply smoking right away from the house, parents can really help protect their children from the immediate and lifelong harm of cigarette smoke.

“One simple step will make a huge difference to the health of children in the South West.
“Our research has shown that smokers are unaware of poisonous chemicals that linger on furniture, fabrics and toys long after cigarettes have been smoked, even if the smoker is not in the same room. These are exactly the sort of things that children are coming into contact with on a daily basis. Small children are particularly at risk as they have developing organs and immature immune systems.
Jo Shepherd-Ogston from Mangotsfield in Bristol has young children living with her.  She no longer smokes in her home after learning about the toxins left behind from her cigarette smoke. She said:

“Since finding out about the toxins that linger around the house I just wouldn’t have it around my children.  I will do everything to protect my family, they’re young children and they don’t deserve to be put in risk in any way.”

The campaign is being supported by partners from Local Authority based family information services, fire services across the South West and National Family Week. It will launch on TV, radio and online on Monday 23 May with specialist material being provided to help smokers looking to make their homes smokefree.

Between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2011 Avon Fire & Rescue Service was called to 43 incidents where smoking materials were identified as the ignition source for fires, more people die in fires caused by smoking than in fires from any other single cause.

Community Safety Officer Roger Farrant, said:

“Smokers are nearly twice as likely to have a fire in their home than a non-smoker, so as well as the negative effects on their health, we’re keen to highlight the extra risk they face in their homes.

“Our main message is to advise smokers to light up outside and ensure they extinguish any smoking materials fully after use.”

“Working with the Smokefree Homes campaign we hope to be able to encourage smokers to apply for a free Home Fire Safety Visit where firefighters will visit their homes to offer fire safety advice and fit smoke detectors.”

Smokefree South West has developed a brand new Smoke Outside info pack, containing information about the best way to create a smokefree home, tools to help smokers protect their families as well information about quitting.