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Action on Smoking and Health
A National Legal-Action Antismoking Organization Entirely Supported by Tax-Deductible Contributions
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Australian Medical Assoc. Pushes for Smoking Ban in Cars Carrying Children [03/29-1]
Excerpts from: Ban parents smoking in cars: AMA
The Australian [03/16/05]
Parents should be banned from smoking while driving in cars with their children, the West Australian branch of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) said today.
AMA WA president Paul Skerritt said children had become the forgotten victims within the passive smoking debate, and should be protected as much – if not more – than adults subjected to other people's smoke.
"How much damage is done to the health of young children sitting in cars for several hours while their parents chain smoke?" Dr Skerritt asked.
"It is like being locked up in a mobile gas chamber."
The AMA said nine children a year, aged up to 14 years, died in WA every year as a result of passive smoking. Thousands more ended up in hospital with smoking-related illnesses, Dr Skerritt said.
"Many children may be able to avoid cigarette smoke in the home but tragically, they can't escape if they're in a car with someone smoking," he said.
The AMA says the WA government should consider legislation protecting children from passive smoking when they are passengers in cars.
Such laws would complement those already announced to restrict sale of cigarettes to children.
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