Delaware County Announces Young Lungs at Play Program
All County parks now designated as tobacco-free
Delaware County Council joined members of the County’s Department of Intercommunity Health, Parks and Recreation, the Delaware County Tobacco-Free Coalition, the Clean Air Council and the Pennsylvania Department of Health on Aug. 7 to announce the County’s participation in the Young Lungs at Play program.
The Young Lungs at Play program was established by the Pennsylvania Department of Health to help communities create tobacco-free parks, playgrounds and recreational areas for children across the state.
Council passed a resolution in June declaring that areas of Clayton Park, Glen Providence Park, Kent Park, Rose Tree Park, Smedley Park and Upland Park within the County of Delaware, where children are present will be designated as tobacco-free and the use of any tobacco product or electronic cigarette, in any form shall be prohibited. Signs prohibiting tobacco products have been placed throughout County parks.
“Delaware County is committed to preventing exposure to secondhand smoke and serving as a role model for non-smoking behaviors for our young people,” said Delaware County Councilman Brian Zidek. “We are proud to provide a safe, smoke-free environment to children and all residents who enjoy our County’s parks.”
More than 858,000 young people are exposed to tobacco smoke pollution each day and the U.S. Surgeon General has stated that there is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke exposure and even brief exposure, whether indoors or outdoors, can cause respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia, asthma attacks, ear infections, shortness of breath, coughing and increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke kills more than 480,000 Americans each year, more than deaths caused by alcohol, AIDS, car accidents, murders, and suicides combined.
During the council meeting Sue McLain, Public Health Program Administrator for the Pennsylvania Department of Health presented the County with a certificate recognizing the County’s participation in the Young Lungs at Play program. McLain also noted that Delaware County is the second County in the state to include electronic cigarettes and vaping into what is prohibited.
More information on the Young Lungs at Play program can be found here: www.health.pa.gov/topics/programs/tobacco/Pages/Young-Lungs-at-Play.aspx
