Smoking parent ‘bad example’

Press, 26 November 1979, Page 15

Smoking parent ‘bad example’

One of the best reasons for parents to give up smoking was to set a good example to their own children, said a visiting British paediatrician. Professor D. Hull, has said in Christchurch. Professor Hull, head of the paediatrics department at the University of Nottingham, is the National Children’s Health Research Foundation visiting professor. He said that parental influence on a child’s possible attitude to smoking in later life was predominant: if parents smoked their children were more likely also to imoke. Professor Hull said he agreed with research findings in New Zealand and overseas that indicated that smoking in front of toddlers contributed to respiratory complaints in young children “It is common sense not

to smoke in front of young children as much as it is I common sense not to smoke at all.” The dangers of smoking had been well documented and its effects on the foetus i were well known, lowered birth weights being the most common factor. Education on the dangers lof smoking should be clearly outlined in well-planned ■ health education pro- ! grammes for schoolchildren, Professor Hull said. Even ■ though these were being ■ applied in many countries there is still strong evidence :to show that young people ; with the serious health prob--1 lem of asthma were smoking just as much as their peer group who did not have asthma. i “In spite of all the advice on the dangers of smoking,! this fact on asthmatic child-, ren is very alarming.” I