Protecting children from exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

Children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke are at greater risk of a number of childhood ailments, especially in the pre-school years. Parents have little knowledge of the health risks of passive smoking, and strategies adopted by them to reduce ETS are often ineffective. Research has found that motivational counselling is effective in helping parents make changes (Emman et al, 2001; Greenberg et al, 1994). The aim of this project was to reduce the number of children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke in the home. The project was led by a member of the Hambleton and Richmondshire Smoke-Free Alliance.