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Second Hand Smoke Awareness Campaign

Clyde Football Club and the Clyde Community Foundation have joined forces with NHS Lanarkshire to raise awareness of the dangers of second hand smoke.

The club’s mascot, Bully and Jenny’s Bear, will front the campaign which will encourage fans and visitors to only smoke outdoors and for families to make their homes and cars smoke free zones. 

Second hand smoking means breathing in other people’s tobacco smoke and the smoke from a burning tip of a cigarette. Second hand smoke can linger in the air for up to five hours even after the cigarette is extinguished. Most of it is invisible you can’t see or smell it, and is harmful to everyone’s health including your pets.

Lynn Adams, Health Improvement Senior for Tobacco/NHS Lanarkshire said: “The best thing anyone can do for their family is to have a smoke-free home and car. We are urging all families in Lanarkshire to become positive anti-tobacco role models and by doing so; they are protecting children from the harmful toxins in tobacco smoke.”

The campaign will target families since children are more at risk from second hand smoke because:

  • Their lungs are still very delicate and are still developing.
  • Children & babies often don’t have the choice or can’t move out of the way of second hand smoke.
  • Children exposed to tobacco smoke have a higher risk of having: Bronchitis, chest infections, coughing, wheezing, ear infections and asthma attacks.

Barry Ferguson said: “I’m delighted that our club will be working closely, over the coming months, with NHS Lanarkshire to raise awareness of the dangers of second hand smoke. There will be lots happening to support the campaign, with matchday activities and competitions to win a signed football or top. If you make your home and car smoke-free your children will be much fitter and healthier too. You never know, they might even become future players for Clyde.”

Supporting the initiative, Clyde Community Foundation Project Manager, Karen Welsh said: “Any campaign which helps young people stay fit and healthy, will always receive our backing. Most youngsters are well aware of the damage smoking does to them and take steps to avoid it – especially those who enjoy taking part in sports. I’d like to think smokers would respect and understand this and take steps to prevent young people being exposed to second hand smoke, to help them fulfil their potential.”

The campaign team would appreciate the input of Clyde supporters by completing a short online survey to coincide with its launch. Please click here to launch the survey.

If you want help and support to stop smoking you can call NHS Lanarkshire’s Stop Smoking Service on 0300 303 0242 or text ‘Advice’ to 81066. 

Or, if you would like some hints and tips on how to promote a smoke-free home,you can visit the Scottish Government’s second hand smoke campaign website, rightoutside.org.