Saving kids from secondhand smoke

Program highlights risk of smoking with kids in the car

January 03, 2008|By DAN DEARTH

HAGERSTOWN - In an effort to protect children from secondhand smoke, a Hagerstown man said Wednesday he wants to educate adults about the health risks involved with smoking in vehicles when children are riding as passengers.

Andy Smith of Brothers United Who Dare To Care, an organization that was organized to help black men take responsibility for their lives, their families and their community, said clinical studies show that children who are exposed to smoke in confined areas are more likely to suffer from asthma and other long-term illnesses.

DON'T SMOKE WITH KIDS IN THE CAR is designed help adults understand that smoking with children in the same vehicle has the potential to be more dangerous to a child's health than driving while intoxicated.

"This has to stop," Smith said. "We want to get this program together until it goes statewide ... This should be against the law."

Smith said he is trying to raise money to print and distribute educational literature that will discourage adults from smoking in a vehicle with children. So far, he has received $3,000 from the Washington County Health Department, in part, to print fliers. He said his goal is to pass out 50,000.

A flier that Smith distributed Wednesday during a meeting of the Tobacco Free Washington County Coalition contained statistics that claimed 53,000 nonsmokers die every year from secondhand smoke and that smoking has been linked to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. A caricature on the flier sends the message that smoking while driving equals death to children.

Smith said people may contact an anti-tobacco coalition by calling 240-420-1796.

People who want to donate money to Smith's efforts may write a tax-deductible check to Brothers United Who Dare To Care and send it to 131 W. North Ave., Hagerstown, MD, 21740.

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