Watch for Dr. Willet's big ad in tomorrow's Sault Star

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

************************* Ontario's doctors and Heart and Stroke Foundation partner to protect children

New education campaign to increase awareness about protecting kids from second-hand smoke in cars

TORONTO, April 13 - The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario are launching an awareness campaign to get the public to realize how smoking in cars with children damages their health.

A series of radio and print ads encouraging parents to butt out while driving with kids begins tomorrow. "Doctors are pleased to see the great government leadership and public support on this issue," said Dr. Willett, president of the Ontario Medical Association. "But this campaign is aimed at those who still don't understand that if you smoke in the car with your children, it's just like they're smoking too." The OMA has been calling for such a ban since the release of its report Exposure to second-hand smoke: Are we protecting our kids?" in 2004.

Figures from the initial report found second-hand smoke (SHS) in a vehicle to be 23 times more toxic than in a house, but new research shows that the concentration of SHS particles in a car can in fact be up to 60 times higher than concentrations indoors, more than double previous findings. The impact of cigarette smoke on children is far reaching. SHS can result in immediate respiratory problems, has been associated with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and is a risk factor in the development of cancer and heart disease later in the child's life. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario has played a significant role in efforts to denormalize tobacco use and develop a comprehensive tobacco control strategy since the 1990's and leads the way in providing consumers, health professionals, and government with the latest information on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of heart disease and stroke. "We applaud the premier for his commitment to protecting children from deadly exposure to over 4000 dangerous chemicals found in cigarette smoke and call on all parties to support this important step," said Rocco Rossi, CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. "As parents and caregivers, it is our responsibility to protect our children and when it comes to smoking in cars, there is no safe level."

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario is a vocal supporter of the ban on smoking in cars carrying children and has been a long-time partner in the fight to eliminate tobacco consumption in the province.

With the support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, OMA and other health partners, Premier McGuinty announced in March 2008, that Ontario would introduce a ban on smoking in cars with children.

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