No ‘use of e-cigarettes’ signs go up outside Flintshire school gates.

No smoking signs are appearing outside school gates across Flintshire asking parents and carers not to smoke cigarettes or e-cigarettes on school grounds.

In Wrexham however, they have gone one step further with signs going up asking parents and carers not to smoke cigarettes or e-cigarettes AT the school gates.

Flintshire County Council say they wrote to schools in March of last year asking them to prohibit the use of e-cigarettes on school premises, in line with the recommendations from Public Health Wales (PHW).

“PHW advise says:

‘Their use (e-cigarettes) should be prohibited in workplaces, educational and public places to ensure their use does not undermine smoking prevention and cessation by reinforcing and normalising smoking’.

Studies have also shown that children who are exposed to adults smoking are significantly more likely to start smoking themselves.

Ian Budd, Chief Officer Education and Youth said:

“Grant funding was made available to us to purchase the signage for all schools in the County this year. The signs were issued to schools ahead of No SmokingDay, which took place on 11 March. Similar signage is being put in place across North Wales schools

In Wrexham signs have gone up outside all primary schools gates asking parents and carers not to smoke cigarettes or e-cigarettes at the gates or on the school grounds.

The North Wales Public Health team have been supporting the Smoke free Wrexham team to make their borough smoke free using a range of interventions.

In trying to address youth smoking in North Wales the Public Health team have designed a prevention programme using a social marketing approach.

Using data and research the programme targets areas where smoking prevalence is highest and focuses on girls who are twice as likely as boys to start smoking at 11-12 years old.

A recent event was held to celebrate the achievements of the childcare organisations involved in the Welsh Government scheme, and provide ideas and inspiration for the next stages of the scheme.

The programme also addresses parental smoking and promotes the idea of Smokefree families.