Doctors urge parents to butt out at home

Date: July 20, 1999
Time: 10:15 am

"My practice is full of children whose health suffers because their parents don't understand how important it is to protect children from cigarette smoke in the home," said Dr. Tom Kovesi, a respirologist at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. "Asthma, ear infections, pneumonia are all more common for children living in smoky homes."

In assessing the exposure of Canadian children to smoke in their homes, sociologist Tom Stephens found that:

- 1.6 million children under age 12 are regularly exposed to cigarette smoke at home;

- 33% of all children live in smoky homes, but the proportion climbs to 85% of children who live with a daily smoker; and

- the highest level of exposure is in Quebec (45% of all children, and 94% of children living with a daily smoker) and the lowest is in British Columbia (23% of all children and 67% of children living with a daily smoker).

PSC contends that protecting children from secondhand smoke is an element of child safety and urged physicians to remind parents of the importance of keeping their homes smoke free, even if it means smoking outside.

"Ninety percent of parents protect their children by using the right kind of car seat," added Dr. Kovesi. "However, only 15% of smokers protect their children from the toxic ingredients in secondhand smoke."

Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada's mandate is to research tobacco-caused disease and to promote measures to reduce tobacco use. A full copy of the study is available on the PSC Web site.

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