Smoking parents hurting their children

RECENTLY, I have noticed an increasing number of drivers smoking while carrying children as passengers.

I can only assume they are the children on the driver, and are being subjected to second hand smoke without knowledge of the dangers.

Passive smoking can be extremely dangerous for young children, as well as adults. Children of parents who smoke are likely to: inhale about the same amount of nicotine as if they were actively smoking 60 to 150 cigarettes a year; have more serious lung infections, such as croup, bronchitis and pneumonia; have more middle ear infections, including “glue ear” — the most common cause of childhood deafness; have reduced lung function and suffer more asthma attacks. Keeping all of this in mind, what could the parents who smoke with their children in the car be thinking when they light a cigarette? No matter where you are going, or how much you are craving a cigarette, don’t jeopardise the health of your children. This behaviour by parents borders on child abuse, and should be made a punishable offence.