Smoke-free playgrounds and sporting fields

There is strong community support to make playgrounds and sporting fields in local areas smoke-free zones.

• Second hand smoke is harmful to both children and adults.
• Children exposed to second hand smoke are more likely to suffer from colds and ear infections.
• Second hand smoke is especially dangerous to children and adults with asthma or other chronic illnesses because it aggravates their condition.

Littered cigarette butts are also hazardous to children. Young children may pick up the butts and put them in their mouths, possibly choking or burning themselves. The harmful chemicals and nicotine in discarded cigarettes can be toxic and even fatal to a small child.

In 2003 the following councils voted to protect the health of their children by making playgrounds and sporting fields smoke-free zones:

- Hawkesbury City Council
- Liverpool City Council
- Baulkham Hills Shire Council
- Pittwater Council

They adopted the following motion:

• To ban smoking within 10 metres of all children's playground equipment
• To ban smoking around all playing fields and sporting grounds
• Erect signage around playground equipment and playing fields to indicate that these designated areas are smoke-free
• Ensure that events run or sponsored by Council should be smoke-free

Wingecarribee Shire Council adopted the motion for smoke-free sporting fields.

For further information on smoke-free playgrounds and sporting fields please refer to our fact sheets. If you are interested in lobbying your local council to adopt similar policies, you can call:

Meagan Lawson
Parliamentary Liaison Officer
The Cancer Council NSW
Ph: (02) 9334 1850.

 

Fact Sheets

Why are smoke free playgrounds important to our children

Download Fact Sheet 1 [Size:69KB, 1 page]

 

Tobacco and Our Children’s Health

Download Fact sheet 2 [Size:109KB, 2 pagse]

 

Cigarettes and Pollution

Download Fact Sheet 3 [Size:102KB, 2 pages]

 

Progress to Date

Download Fact Sheet 4 [Size:87KB, pages]

 

Sample Resolution

Download Fact Sheet 5 [Size:102KB, 4pages]