Before I turned off the TV this morning , I caught a question from a breakfast show that really did get me thinking. I turned the TV off and didn't continue to listen to what was said. But I sat down to think about the question Are parents that smoke child abusers?
I have both the answer of yes and no to that question. I would or course say yes if a parent was to smoke within distance of a child which allows the child to breathe in the smoke or even get a whiff of it.
Breathing in other people's secondhand smoke can damage almost every organ in the human body. Breathing secondhand smoke increases a non-smoker's risk of lung cancer by 24% and heart disease by 25%.
Breathing in secondhand smoke makes the blood more sticky, meaning there is an increased risk of blood clots forming. A blood clot can block an artery and cause heart attacks, strokes, angina, or even complete heart failure. Taken from NHS Smoke Free.
I'm surprised that I'm not already hooked up to a gas tank or that my lungs are damaged due to my parents. From the moment I can remember I was constantly around smoke, they smoked a hell of a lot and it wouldn't surprise me if they did it around me when I was a baby. I was forever breathing it in, had no choice to when you sat on a sofa next to them or holding hands through town whilst your mother lights up. I will never be able to tell if they've damaged me until I die. I did have times of needing a inhaler whilst growing up due to stints of not being able to breathe easily, I do put this down to the 13 or so years I had of inhaling second hand smoke.
But I would say no though if a smoker was to do it nowhere near a baby/child and was to do it outside (smoke can linger for up to two and a half hours inside) . I know you have you rights to smoke as much as we have our rights to protect our health as well as our children's.
It is harsh words to say that parents to smoke are called child abusers , I know myself that those are harsh words to say to any parent. But anyone who freely lets there children breathe in there smoke are harming there child. Surely there isn't anyone silly enough to do that?
I know both non-smokers & smokers will have different opinions on this. How about is someone your close to smokes? Does that change what your answer would be? You can see I said yes because I grew up with that second hand smoke and looking back on those days now as a adult I see my parents as abusing my right to a smoke free living. What do you think?
These are just my personal opinions. Both positive/negative comments are welcome but I will not tolerate nasty language or personal attacks. After all this is MY blog.