A summer campaign has been launched by the government in Wales to encourage parents not to smoke in cars when children are present. Fresh Start Wales hopes to reduce children's exposure to cigarette smoke by highlighting the dangers it poses. According to health experts, second-hand cigarette smoke increases children's chances of developing a number of conditions, including asthma, ear infections and cot death.
As the summer holidays approach and families prepare to spend more time together, the government is underlining these dangers and urging parents to keep their cars smoke-free. 'While families may be in the car more frequently, we don't want to see a rise in children's exposure to second-hand smoke,' said Dr Tony Jewell, Wales' chief medical officer.
The expert noted that second-hand smoke contains more than 4,000 potentially harmful chemicals and that these toxins linger in cars for hours. 'We believe that parents want to protect their children and, once they are fully aware of the risks, they will choose not to smoke in front of them,' Dr Jewell added. Last year (July 2011), the Welsh government announced that it may consider introducing a ban on smoking in cars when children are present if its public awareness campaigns are not successful.
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