IT'S claimed smokers in St Helens are putting the health of their children at risk every day, while  stubbing nearly £50 million out of the local economy every year.

Today (Tuesday, June 4) a new Smokefree Homes and Cars campaign aims to highlight the hazards second-hand smoke can cause in enclosed spaces.

St Helens Council is to reinforce national TV and radio adverts that show smoking by a window or the backdoor is simply not enough to protect children from second-hand smoke.

Health experts claim that more than 80% of second-hand smoke is invisible and odourless, yet contains harmful cancer causing toxins and poisons that are unknowingly damaging children in St Helens every day.

Smoking near children directly damages their health, and it's been found that children of smokers are 90 per cent more likely to become smokers themselves.

Latest statistics reveal that in St Helens, 29,295 people smoke and it’s estimated it costs the local economy £48.2m every year in NHS costs, lost productivity, litter and fire damage.

St Helens Council leader, Barrie Grunewald said:  “Second-hand smoke causes a range of serious health problems for children and adults. We want to reduce the number of children who are admitted to hospital every year in St Helens through the effects of second-hand smoke.

“Children’s lungs are smaller and less developed, so they are more vulnerable to the effects of second-hand smoke.

"As a parent I know how important this is and that parents and grandparents in St Helens will want to do everything they can to protect their children’s health. Opening a window won’t protect children’s health, but smoke free cars and homes will.”

Now residents are being urged to protect children by pledging to make their cars and homes smoke free.

Those who are considering quitting can order a quit kit that will help to prepare to quit smoking; to order your free quit kit, please visit the NHS Smoke Free website on www.nhs.uk/smokefree

Liz Gaulton, Director of Public Health said: “St Helens Stop Smoking Service wants to support people who smoke to think about the effect this can have on their family and support them to take positive action. Giving up smoking or making sure you have a completely smokefree home and car is the only way to protect your family.

“If people do want to quit there is excellent support and advice available.

Get in touch with the St Helens Stop Smoking Service on 01744 814837 or alternatively email smoking.support@bridgewater.nhs.uk ”

People who are not ready to stop smoking just yet can still pledge to make their cars and homes smoke free by taking seven steps out of their door before smoking.

St Helens Clinical Commissioning group are developing a campaign to help people to make this pledge. Staff from a range of agencies will be trained over the summer to help and encourage people to make the pledge.

This local pledge scheme will launch in July.

Dr Steve Cox, Chief Operating officer from St Helens Clinical commissioning group said “Every day in surgery, doctors in St Helens see how smoking and second hand smoking blights the lives of local people and ruins their health and wellbeing.

"This is why the Clinical Commissioning group working with St Helens council and voluntary agencies wants to do something to help protect local people, particularly children from the effects of tobacco smoking”.

Andrea Crossfield, Chief Executive of Tobacco Free Futures, which developed the award winning Take Seven Steps Out campaign in St Helens, said: “There are already hundreds of thousands of people who smoke in the North West protecting their children from second-hand smoke by taking seven steps out – which involves moving well away from homes and buildings to smoke.

“There are over 4,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, 60 of which cause cancer.

"Opening windows or standing at the door doesn’t stop the toxic poisons contained in smoke filling a room or a car and children breathing it in.

"This campaign will remind people that smoking at home or in the car is harmful to children and they can take action to prevent this even if they are not ready to quit”.

In the North West, second-hand smoke results in at least 34,000 GP consultations a year and over 1,100 hospital admissions.