Ban: Stop smoking in cars to save children's health say doctors

Smoking should be banned in all cars to save children from the health dangers caused by passive inhalation, says a report from the Royal College of Physicians.

Doctors are calling for urgent action after figures revealed passive smoking triggers 22,000 cases of asthma and wheezing in children every year.

Around 9,500 hospital admissions among children are linked to the effects of secondhand smoke inside and outside the family home, says the report, which analysed existing research.

Forty babies die from sudden infant death syndrome every year caused by passive smoking - one in five of all such deaths.

At least two million children are exposed to secondhand smoke in the home along with 'avoidable' health risks, says the report.

Professor John Britton, chairman of the Royal College's tobacco advisory group, said legislation to ban smoking in the home would be unenforceable.

But society's views about the ' acceptability' of smoking must be changed and the easiest way to do this is a blanket ban in cars and vans, he said.

This would be simpler to police than the current situation which expects enforcement officers to differentiate between business vehicles, where smoking is banned, and those owned privately.

Professor Britton said: 'We would recommend a ban on smoking in all vehicles.'
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In addition the ban on smoking in enclosed spaces should be extended to parks, playgrounds and other areas where children congregate, he went on.

Richard Ashcroft, a professor of bioethics at Queen Mary, University of London - who contributed to the report - said even parked drivers who never have child passengers should get out of their cars before lighting up.

This would not be a 'significant reduction' in their liberties, he argued.

However, Simon Clark, director of the smokers' lobby group Forest, said: 'We wouldn't encourage people to smoke around children but adults should be allowed to use their common sense.

'These proposals go way beyond what is acceptable in a free society.'

Professor Terence Stephenson, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said it had already demanded a ban on smoking in cars with children travelling in them.

A Department of Health spokesman said: 'By increasing the level of awareness of the harmfulness of secondhand smoke, we will encourage people to voluntarily make their homes and cars smoke free.'- www.dailymail.co.uk

Green sea turtle stops to get a clean from a shoal of fish

This is the spectacular moment a turtle stops to get a clean from a shoal of fish in an underwater 'car wash'.

The Hawaiian green sea turtle floated in mid water while the almost luminous yellow tang fish busied themselves with the task of removing the algae from his body.

In a similar scenario to a normal car wash, the turtles take it in turns to swim into this make-shift 'cleaning station' for their daily wash.

Photographer Mike Roberts, 60, snapped the incredible picture while diving at Puako in Hawaii.

He said: 'The turtle is visiting a cleaning station of yellow tangs.

'This is a very common occurrence - the tangs hang out in the same area everyday and the turtles take turns floating mid water allowing the fish to work on all areas of his body.

'In this symbiotic relationship, the tangs eat by cleaning algae from the turtle.

'To some, the turtle doesn't look very pleased - it could be because turtles have hard mouths and cannot smile or he has only chosen to be here because it feels good.

'He obviously doesn't understand the importance of algae being removed so he is there for the massage.

'This particular shot is somewhat unique because the tangs usually congregate more around the shell rather than the head.'

Mr Roberts, from Maui, in Hawaii, has been diving since he was a boy and has developed an obsession with the sea over the years.

He said: 'I have played with photography most of my life but I have been very serious about it for about 12 years.

'My earliest memories of the world beneath the ocean surface, were of following my dad while he was spearfishing off the coast of Keawekapu on Maui.

'Now, over a half of a century later, I am scuba diving and my passion for the sea has become obsession.

'Much of my underwater photography is captured within a couple of miles of the same area I snorkeled with my father.

'The undersea world is still full of splendour and there are still new things to see on every dive.'- www.dailymail.co.uk