Kick the killer out of your home

More than 400 people are killed in the borough each year because of illnesses caused by smoking.

But it's not just the smokers who run the risk of serious illness or death; they can often put their families at risk in their homes.

It is estimated that half the children in the borough are exposed to smoke at home. Their exposure has been linked to lower respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia, increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, asthma, respiratory symptoms and acute and chronic middle ear disease.

Smoking also reduces fertility in both men and women. It increases the risk of complications in pregnancy including miscarriage, placental problems, premature birth, low birth-weight, perinatal death and reduced breastfeeding rates.

Children are known to mimic adult behaviour so in a home where a parent smokes, it is more likely that the child will eventually become a smoker.

In a bid to cut the risk to people who inhale second-hand smoke at the home - and to mark National No Smoking Say on 14 March - health officers at the Council are asking people to make a pledge to make their homes smoke-free.

They can make Gold Promise, which means no smoking at all in the home, or a Silver Promise, which means smoking only in a well-ventilated room and never in front of the children.

As well helping to get smokers to quit, the Smoke Free Homes campaign, run by the Council's Environmental Health Service, also aims to raise awareness of the dangers of second-hand smoke, especially to unborn children, their mothers and to young children too.

A Smoke Free Homes leaflet is available that contains a tear-off pledge form. Smokers are asked to sign it and return it to the address on the leaflet. In return they will receive lots of useful information as help and encouragement, and stickers to show visitors that your home is smoke-free.

A roadshow, organised by the Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust and the Environmental Health Service, is visiting three towns in the borough next week.

On Tuesday, 13 March, it will be at Taylor Street Clinic, Heywood, from 1.30-.4.30pm. On Wednesday 14 March the venue is Rochdale Market, all day and on Thursday 15 March it calls in at Rochdale Infirmary for the day.

The Tesco in the Arndale Centre, Middleton, is holding its own even for National No Smoking Say on Thursday.

The roadshows will be encouraging smokers to 'Make a Fresh Start' by setting a date to quit their smoking habit.

Copies of the Smoke Free Homes pledge leaflet will also be available at the roadshows and are also available at from pharmacies, some GP surgeries and from the Environmental Health Service.