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Bolton mum takes seven steps for Mother’s Day

 

March 29, 2011

 

In the run up to Mother’s Day, Smokefree North West and Steparoo, the Take 7 Steps Out mascot, have been out and about saying a big thank you to Bolton mum Nickola Gavin for taking 7 Steps Out to protect her children from secondhand smoke.

 

Nickola has two daughters, Grace, four, and Poppy, who is five months old. She said: "I've always smoked outside even before having the girls."

 

The Take 7 Steps Out campaign, developed by Smokefree North West, urges all parents to be aware of the harm that secondhand smoke can cause to their children’s health and how they need to take at least seven steps outside of the house to make sure the smoke does not drift back in.

 

Steparoo has been spotted all over the north west in the past week encouraging mums to Take 7 Steps Out and leaving big footprints in her wake.

 

Jan Hutchinson, Director of Public Health at NHS Bolton, said: "Children can’t escape smoke when it’s indoors. The toxic fumes can really damage a child’s developing lungs, triggering asthma attacks, bronchilitis, middle ear infection and hearing impairment, as well as increasing the risk of cot death.

 

“Taking just a few steps out of your home, or car, to smoke can make a huge difference.”

 

The good news is that the campaign has already had a positive effect. After the first 5 weeks of the campaign last summer, 19% of the target audience said that they now go right outside to smoke to protect their children from secondhand smoke.

 

Julie Webster, Chair of Smokefree North West, said: “We have a duty to support parents with the best possible information. Parents and other family members may not know that many of the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke are invisible, so standing by an open window or door is simply not enough to protect their children.

 

“We know the public are behind us – with almost nine in ten supporting more education for smokers who live with children. We are working in close partnership with partners across health, local authority and fire and rescue and believe this campaign can make a real difference to the lives of children across our region. You can log on at Take 7 Steps Out for helpful tips and hints about how to make your home smokefree”

 

For more information about the campaign please visit: www.take7stepsout.co.uk

 

Follow Steparoo’s blog at:  steparoo.take7stepsout.co.uk