Sheffield’s leading family support charity, Home-Start Sheffield, has today welcomed the Government’s announcement that it will introduce regulations to prohibit smoking in cars with children.
The new regulations, which will ban smoking in cars containing children under
18, will come in to effect on 1 st October 2015.
A survey revealed that one child in five reported often being exposed to smoking in cars. Younger children are particularly vulnerable to second-hand smoke as they have smaller lungs and less developed immune systems.
Smoke in cars is particularly dangerous, as children are confined and smoke concentration often reaches very high levels.
Over 800 children visit their doctor every day due to the serious effects of second-hand smoke exposure, according to research published by the Royal
College of Physicians. The British Lung Foundation estimates that 430,000 children are exposed to second-hand smoke in their family car every week.
For Sheffield, this figure equates to around 5,000 children every week.
Legislation is likely to significantly reduce the levels of exposure; when seatbelt laws were introduced in 1983, compliance rates jumped from 25% to over 90%.
Jack Scott, Manager at Home-Start Sheffield said:
“This is very good news for protecting the health of Sheffield children.
Smoking just a single cigarette in a car exposes children to high levels of air pollutants and cancer causing chemicals like arsenic, formaldehyde and tar.
Children are least equipped to speak out to protest against second-hand smoke, so we’re pleased that very soon there will be an end to smoking in cars when children are present.”
Dr Penny Woods, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation, said:
“After years of campaigning on this issue, we could not be more delighted by the government’s commitment to help stop smoking in cars with children present.

With so many children being exposed to second-hand smoke in the family car every week in the UK, we are certain that this measure will prove to be one of the most significant moments for public health since the smoke free legislation of 2007.”
Professor Kevin Fenton, National Director for Health and Wellbeing for Public Health England, added:
“Many parents aren’t aware that over 80% of second-hand smoke is invisible and odourless. A completely smoke free home and car is a strong and positive step towards protecting the health of our children.
Notes to the Editor
The law will come into force on 1 October 2015, and people failing to comply could face a £50 fixed penalty notice.
Home-Start background and services
Home-Start runs more services and has more volunteers supporting more families than any other family support charity in the UK.
The Sheffield scheme was set up 32 years ago and has supported over 5000 families in that time - an average of 250 families a year. It has over 100 volunteers at any one time. Every year, Home-Start Sheffield supports over
800 vulnerable children and parents. 115 Sheffield volunteers give up their time to undertake 1700 home-visits. In the last year, we provided over 3,650 hours of support to vulnerable families.
Across the UK, 325 organisations are supported by 15,000 Home-Start volunteers visiting families at home each week.
Volunteers provide non-judgmental practical and emotional support and help build the family's confidence and ability to cope.
Usually referred by social services, health visitors and support workers, they are there for parents battling against isolation or bereavement, those juggling the pressure of a multiple birth, illness or disability as well as those who are simply finding parenting a struggle.
Home-Start help to increase the confidence and independence of families by:

Visiting families in their own homes to offer support, friendship and


 practical assistance
Reassuring parents that their childcare problems are not unusual or unique
Encouraging parents' strengths and emotional well-being for the ultimate benefit of their children
Trying to get the fun back into family life

Our volunteers, who have parenting experience themselves, can offer:






Precious time for listening and talking
Help with the children
A break for parents
Practical help and reassurance
A chance to meet other parents in similar situations
Support to use local services and resources
Parents ask for Home-Start's help for all sorts of reasons:




They may feel isolated in their community, have no family nearby and be struggling to make friends
They may be finding it hard to cope because of their own or a child's physical or mental illness
They may have been hit hard by the death of a loved one
They may be really struggling with the emotional and physical demands of having twins or triplets - perhaps born into an already large family