Smokefree Car on the Move for World Smokefree Day 2015

13 May 2015

Smokefree Car on the Move for World Smokefree Day 2015

‘Quit now – it’s about whānau’ is the message for this year’s World Smokefree Day, and it starts in Southern homes and communities.

Celebrated globally on 31 May, this year’s World Smokefree Day is about encouraging and supporting friends, families and whānau across New Zealand to create environments where our children are free from exposure to tobacco.

To celebrate World Smokefree Day the smokefree car is on the move and will be at various places around the Southern district gathering support for smokefree cars carrying children. Come along, have your children’s photo taken in the smokefree car cut out and support the cause.

“Research indicates that children with parents who smoke are three times more likely to become smokers,” explains Bridget Rodgers, Health Promotion Advisor, Southern District Health Board.

“We know that parents, whether they are smokers or not, feel very strongly about not exposing children to smoking”, says Bridget.

“Parents, whānau and caregivers can make positive changes to the environment children are growing up in, even if they smoke. Talking to their children about smoking and establishing smokefree rules like not smoking around children, keeping the house and car smokefree is a fantastic start and a step in the right direction to protecting their children” says Ms. Rodgers.

It’s a great opportunity to stand together as a family or a community and show your support to the future of this country and the health of future generations.

“Children see their parents smoke and this has a strong effect on what they perceive as normal.” she says.

World Smokefree Day is a perfect opportunity to work together to achieve the goal of a Smokefree Aotearoa 2025, encouraging and supporting more people to quit to have a future in which our children and grandchildren will enjoy tobacco-free lives.

“Join with smokers and non-smokers alike, all around the world, and be a role model for the wellbeing of your family in 2015 – it’s about whānau,” said Bridget.

Come along and find out more about how you and your whãnau can live smokefree.

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