New Web Site Offers Resources to Help Reduce Second Hand Smoke Exposure in Children

MILWAUKEE, June 14 /PRNewswire/ — A new Web site devoted to reducing children’s exposure to secondhand smoke was recently launched by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the AAP Center for Child Health Research, and Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC.

The site, http://www.kidslivesmokefree.org/ , is the second phase of the Smoke Free Homes Project, a comprehensive, national effort to train pediatric clinicians in brief, effective methods to reduce children’s secondhand smoke exposure through parental smoking cessation and harm reduction.

Over 15 million children in the United States are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke in the home. Children breathing secondhand smoke are more likely to suffer from bronchitis and pneumonia, ear infections, coughing and wheezing, and more frequent and severe asthma attacks. Asthma accounts for 14 million missed school days every year.

“The community of people caring for the health of children, parents, teachers, pediatricians, and others, is ready to reduce the exposure of children to the poisons in tobacco smoke,” said Dana Best, MD, MPH, from Children’s National Medical Center and Smoke Free Homes Project Director. “Together we can help parents quit smoking, encourage our communities to be smoke free, and prevent children from becoming the next generation of smokers. It’s hard work, but we’re ready!”

   The new Web site features:    — Latest news, updates, and alerts on tobacco and secondhand smoke.   — A patients and consumers section featuring health tips and other      resources.   — Resources for professionals, including links to various organizations      committed to the effort.    

In April, the project sponsored the Smoke Free Homes Champions Symposium, a two-day event that brought together healthcare professionals in both private practice and academia, including pediatricians, pediatric allergists/immunologists, residents and allied health professionals.

The goal of the symposium was education and featured information on the current state of public knowledge, research, barriers, issues and problem solving/action plan development. Participants returned to their communities ready to implement grass roots efforts and provide local healthcare professionals with the essential building blocks to reduce children’s exposure to tobacco smoke.

   SMOKE FREE HOMES Founding Partners    — American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI)   — American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)   — Center for Child Health Research (CCHR)   — Children’s National Medical Center (CNMC)    

The Smoke Free Homes campaign is funded through grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute (FAMRI), and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).

The AAAAI is the largest professional medical specialty organization in the United States representing allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals and others with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic disease. Allergy/immunology specialists are pediatric or internal medicine physicians who have elected an additional two years of training to become specialized in the treatment of asthma, allergy and immunologic disease. The AAAAI serves as an advocate to the public by providing educational information through its Web site at http://www.aaaai.org/ .

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

CONTACT: John Gardner of AAAAI, +1-414-272-6071, jgardner@aaaai.org

Web site: http://www.aaaai.org/http://www.kidslivesmokefree.org/