New Offaly initiative to promote smoke-free spaces for children
Healthy Offaly has launched new 'Not Around Us' playground signage in Edenderry in an effort to promote smoke-free spaces for children.
The initiative, organised in partnership with Offaly County Council, aims to reinforce the local authority's commitment to creating smoke-free and vape-free environments for children and young people.
A statement announcing the new signage said it includes clear 'no smoking' and 'no vaping' messaging, bilingual text in English and Irish, and QR codes linking to quit-smoking services.
The initiative builds on the earlier launch of the ‘Not Around Us’ logo in May.
Healthy Offaly said there were numerous reports stating that environmental tobacco smoke, or passive smoking, was carcinogenic, including the Department of Health Tobacco Free Ireland Report 2013.
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in Ireland. Representing almost one in five of all deaths or at least 5,200 people per year. In Ireland just over 3 in 20 people smoke.
The ‘Not around Us’ campaign in Offaly is being rolled out by Healthy Offaly, based in Offaly County Council, and is being supported by the HSE, Offaly LCDC and Offaly Sports Partnership, with the playground signage being funded and supplied by the roads section of Offaly County Council.
Healthy Offaly thanked Cllr Noel Cribbin, Chairperson of Edenderry Playground Committee, for facilitating the launch of the new signage and ‘Not Around Us’ campaign in the local playground.
Other elected representatives who attended the launch were Cllr Fergus McDonnell and Cllr Claire Murray-Smale representing Edenderry Municipal District.
Healthy Offaly also acknowledged the assistance of the Amanda Caulfield, Health Promotion & Improvement Officer with the HSE, Aisling Warburton, HSE, Lourda Giles, Edenderry Municipal District and David McCaffrey, Offaly Sports Partnership, who have all being strong advocates for the campaign.
If you would like support to quit smoking, contact: Amanda Caulfield, HSE Stop Smoking Service Advisor on 087 607 6432. Amanda is based at Edenderry Health Centre.