A CAMPAIGN aiming to educate families about the dangers of second-hand smoke has been launched.

Hampshire County Council has teamed up with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, the NHS and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to encourage people to protect their families from second-hand smoke and reduce the risk of fire by not smoking indoors.

Eighty per cent of cigarette smoke is invisible and odourless but opening doors and windows does not remove its harmful poisons.

Breathing in other people’s tobacco smoke is known to cause a range of disorders, from minor eye and throat irritation to heart disease and lung cancer. Second-hand smoke is especially dangerous for children, babies and women who are pregnant, and children exposed to smoke have an increased risk of asthma, meningitis and middle ear infections.

The county council is seeking people’s views on smoke-free homes and is encouraging people to take part in its survey, which will inform the borough council’s work on introducing a voluntary ban on smoking near children’s outdoor play areas.

Infant and junior schools across Basingstoke will be sent a new resource pack to learn about second-hand smoke, and schools are also taking part in a competition for pupils to design a poster to encourage people not to smoke around outdoor play parks. The winner will receive a VIP tour of Basingstoke fire station.

Councillor Liz Fairhurst, executive member for adult social care and public health, said: “We hope this campaign will capture the imagination of local schoolchildren and give us some brilliant designs that will really help to spread the message that the best way to protect children from the dangers of cigarettes is not to smoke around them.”

Ian Wadmore, station manager at Basingstoke fire station, said: “We are delighted to be supporting our partners with this initiative.

“As a fire service, we would encourage people to be aware of the increased risk of fire as well as the dangers of second-hand smoke. Smokers’ materials, such as cigarettes and matches, cause the largest proportion of fire deaths in the home. If you do choose to smoke, stub cigarettes out properly, dispose of them carefully and always ensure that you keep matches and lighters out of children’s reach.”