Published 11 June 2021
Pupils are encouraging adults to keep their ‘Ciggies away from the Kiddies’ when visiting West Dunbartonshire play parks.
In partnership with West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership, Communities Team and Greenspace, pupils in Primary 5 and S2 took part in a competition to design a poster to raise awareness of the dangers of second-hand smoke to children, highlighting play parks as an area which should remain smoke free.
The winning posters were designed by Lauri Doherty S2 pupil at Our Lady and Saint Patrick’s High School and shows the text ‘Keep your ciggies away from kiddies’ and P5 pupil, Orlagh Prior from Whitecrook Primary designed a poster urging adults ‘Please don’t smoke where children play’. The posters will be prominently displayed to remind people not to smoke in or around West Dunbartonshire play parks.
The initiative aims to protect the health of children and young people by calling on adults to do the right thing and making smoking within play parks socially unacceptable.
Councillor Karen Conaghan, Convener of Educational Services said: “Well done to these two pupils who have captured the feeling of us all with regards to smoking around play parks. It is important that we make adults aware of the dangers of secondhand smoke, which can cause numerous health problems in infants and children. I hope posters will make people think twice before lighting up a cigarette near to where any children are playing.
Councillor Ian Dickson, Vice Convener of Educational Services, added: “People must recognise that passive smoking causes ill-health in children and that they have a responsibility not to inflict harm on their children. Clearly the best way to eliminate children’s exposure to passive smoking is for parents to stop smoking and to make homes and play parks smoke-free.”
Smoke-free Play parks originates from the West Dunbartonshire Substance Use Prevention Strategy.