Public play areas go smokefree

A voluntary no smoking code is being introduced to all ninety-five public play areas in Warrington today, to deter children from taking up smoking – the single biggest cause of ill health and death.
The Play Smokefree code being launched by Warrington Borough Council, aims to reduce the number of youngsters who take up smoking after being influenced by those who do. Three out of four children are aware of cigarettes before they reach the age of five, according to the heart health charity Heart of Mersey (HoM), which is behind the initiative.
“Smoking in children’s play areas in a fairly common practice among teenagers and adults and as such can be perceived by youngsters as a normal activity”, said the charity’s Tobacco Control Programme Lead, Jo McCullagh. She added, “A child who smokes just one cigarette doubles their chances of becoming a regular smoker by the age of seventeen. We want to use this voluntary code to de-normalise smoking in areas where children play and learn.”
Although voluntary the scheme already has strong long support. In 2011 a survey of 233 Warrington residents (nearly 40% of them smokers), showed that 72.1% supported not smoking within playground areas.
The Smokefree Play Areas initiative will be launched in Warrington by the Mayor of Warrington, Councillor Steve Wright at 12noon today (Thursday, July 12) in Bank Park Play Area, Froghall Lane, Warrington, WA1 1UE.
Warrington is the second borough in Cheshire to sign up to the code, which has been developed by local heart health charity Heart of Mersey in partnership with Cheshire and Merseyside Tobacco Alliance, Warrington Borough Council and NHS Warrington.
Park rangers and wardens have undergone training to increase awareness of the code with play area visitors, and colourful Play Smokefree signs, designed by children will remind people not to light up. However, the onus is on local people themselves to make the scheme a success.
Dr Rita Robertson, Director of Public Health for Warrington, said, “This is a voluntary code, but we are confident from the feedback we have had that people welcome the idea. It is really important that we do what we can to try to reduce the number of children taking up a habit that could ultimately kill them.”
Cabinet Member for the Environment and Public Protection, Councillor David Keane, who has been leading the initiative, said: “Children learn their behaviour from adults and become aware of smoking at an early age. If children see smoking as a normal part of everyday life they are more likely to become smokers themselves.”
Nationally, 6% of 11-15 year olds smoke and an estimated 330,000 children under the age of 16 try cigarettes for the first time each year. The North West rate is higher, with 18% of 14-17 years olds smoking.
Smoking is the single, greatest cause of preventable illness and death in England, causing one in six adult deaths and half of all long-term users. Eighty thousand people a year die from smoking every year in England alone.