| Updated: 10/01/2009 7:22 pm |
Published: 10/01/2009 4:25 pm |
It’s official; Little Rock city parks are now smoke free zones. While it’s only a policy and not law, they're hoping it will discourage people from smoking in the parks and cut down on folks breathing in second-hand smoke. Park goers say this would definitely help them breathe easier.
"For children who are coming to the parks to get exercise so they won't be obese, for kids who come to the park and have asthma, second-hand smoke is a real peril," explains Dr. Gary Wheel with Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
The signs advertise a new policy prohibiting smoking and other tobacco use in Little Rock city parks. Kids are looking forward to breathing a little easier while out playing.
"We can play without the smoke bothering us and I can bring my puppies Max and Disney to the park," says Sophia Perez.
Second-hand smoke isn't the only problem in parks so are cigarette butts. According to experts the number one call to poison control hotlines is that a child has ingested a cigarette butt which is toxic.
"No surprise because they, like all tobacco products, contain about 11 class A carcinogens, so I’m happy for this day in a way I can't say," says Dr. Wheeler.
And so are Kathryn Griffin and her running buddies. “I really think it's a message for children not to think its okay to smoke or to dip or any kind of tobacco use they encounter."
"When you say no to tobacco you say yes to life," says Sophia Perez.
The policy goes into affect Thursday. Signs will soon go up in all parks across the city. Again this not a law it's only a policy.
