Now is a great time to quit smoking. From the 1 October 2015 there is a ban which will stop people from smoking in cars carrying children? The reason for this is because children are vulnerable to secondhand smoke so the best way to protect your and your family is to make your home and your car smokefree. So why don’t you take advantage of the range of free help and support available to help you stop smoking and be smokefree?

If you want to stop smoking why not take part in Stoptober which will give you lots of additional help and support.

Why is the ban coming in?

• Secondhand smoke is particularly harmful to children as they breathe more rapidly and have less developed airways. Children being exposed to secondhand smoke results in more than 300,000 GP consultations and 9,500 hospital admissions every year.
• The government estimates that three million children in England are exposed to secondhand smoke in their family car, which puts them at risk of serious conditions including, respiratory infections, meningitis and triggering asthma.
• A survey by the British Lung Foundation found that 86% of children who are exposed to smoking in cars would like the smoker to stop; yet only 31% actually feel able to ask them to do so.

The law will come into force on 1 October 2015, and people failing to comply could face a £50 fixed penalty notice.

So come on, isn’t it time you stop smoking! Theres lots of free help and advice out there to support you quitting the habit so why not take the first steps to a smokefree you.

Stop Smoking Advice:

• If you are in Kent go to: www.kenthealthandwellbeing.nhs.uk/stop-smoking
• If you are in Medway go to: www.abettermedway.co.uk/smokefree.aspx
• If you want to read Live It Well’s Stop Smoking pages click on the link, this contains details of how to get a quit kit and other sources of help.
• If you are not in Kent or Medway go to NHS Smokefree: www.nhs.uk/smokefree

To find out more about the health implications about second-hand smoke and the reasons for the ban go to:

• NHS Smokefree Secondhand Smoke pages: www.nhs.uk/smokefree/why-quit/secondhand-smoke
• British Lung Foundation Smoking in Cars information: http://www.blf.org.uk/Page/Smoking-in-cars