Medway Public Health’s ‘A Better Medway’ team have installed the signs in response to strong support from Medway residents. Recent local research showed that both smokers and non-smokers were in favour of making children's play areas smoke free.
The brightly coloured signs feature drawings by Medway children, selected from hundreds of entries to the Smokefree Play drawing competition that ran throughout the summer at several public events including the Medway Mile.
The project aims to make people aware of the health benefits that a smoke free play area can have on children.
Research by Medway Public Health Team shows that when children see adults smoking in a family-friendly public place it can normalise smoking. Children who grow up thinking that smoking is a normal part of adult behaviour are more likely to take up smoking themselves.
By encouraging smoke free play areas across Medway, the project aims to make them cleaner places for children to enjoy.
The new signs are now on display in 80 play areas across Medway.
For information, advice and support to help you stop smoking visit www.smokefreemedway.co.uk or call the Medway Stop Smoking Service on 0800 234 6805.
A Better Medway is brought to you by NHS Medway and Medway Council. Visit www.abettermedway.co.uk or follow them on Twitter @abettermedway for news and information on local Health Improvement services, programmes and events.
