Ban smoking in children's play areas

In response to the Welsh article on smoking in children's play areas, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health’s Officer for Wales Iolo Doull said:

'The damage that passive smoking can do to children's health cannot and should not be underestimated. Second-hand smoke contains more than 4,000 toxic chemicals and stays in the air for up to two and a half hours. These chemicals are known to cause chest infections, asthma, ear problems, cot death, and can even lead to cancer in children.

'Smoke-free playgrounds are essential if we're to give children a healthy environment in which to play - and it's disappointing to learn that 20 out of the 22 Welsh councils still allow smoking in children's play areas. The Welsh Government has committed to trying to stamp out children's exposure to second-hand smoke, but experience shows that simply encouraging people to change behaviours often does not have the desired results.

'At the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health we want to see an outright ban on smoking in children’s playgrounds. You can no longer smoke in enclosed public places or in the workplace and Wales is leading the push for people not to smoke in cars when children are present. For the sake of children's health, let's also make sure the areas designed for children's health enjoyment are not smoke-filled.'

View the article here.