Exposure to second-hand smoke: Are We Protecting Our Kids?

Here's the OMA position paper [PDF] on the topic of second-hand smoke and the impact to our children. (I mentioned on Wednesday, that this would be released shortly.) Their recommendations are as follows:

If you work with kids, quit smoking or get on the patch (or some nicotine replacement therapy).

The government should fund nicotine replacement therapies to wean the smoking population off cigarettes.

If you transport kids in vehicles, you should not be allowed to smoke. It should be against the law.

The government should have programs in place to educate and encourage foster parents to not pollute their kids lungs.

Public education on second-hand smoke and the impact to children should be stepped up.

Smoking should be banned in daycares and nurseries.

Medical and legal information on second-hand smoke impact on children should be made available to lawyers and judges that work on child welfare cases.

The government should provide adequate funding for public health departments to take the Breathing Space campaign provincewide.

The education of health care professionals should include intervention training to help them in their interactions with smoking parents.

On the whole, nothing revolutionary -- but, this is just another step in getting Ontario to become smoke-free. And it's a damn good thing!