Rotherham mum kicks cigarette habit with help of son (4)

Nicole Shackley (26), of Sivilla Road, Mexborough, had smoked for nine years but decided enough was enough after fearing that she was putting her son, Joe’s health at risk.

More than 100 children are admitted to Rotherham General Hospital every year because of illnesses made worse by tobacco smoke.

And the mum of one decided to seek help from NHS Rotherham to quit for good once and for all.

She said: “I was decorating the house one day and noticed how stained the ceilings were from the tobacco smoke so thought ‘If that's what it's doing in my home, what’s it doing inside our bodies’

Children and babies who are regularly forced to breath in tobacco smoke inhale the equivalent of 60 to 150 cigarettes a year, according to health experts.

Research has shown that the two places where children are exposed to tobacco smoke the most is in the home and in the car.

Tobacco smoke increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death and contains more than 4,000 toxic chemicals.

More than 50 of these chemicals cause cancer.

Ninety per cent of these chemicals stick to the walls, clothes, furniture, hair, and skin for up to two weeks.

In a bid to get help, Nicole signed-up to NHS Rotherham’s Smokefree Homes initiative—a voluntary initiative aimed at encouraging Rotherham households to avoid the hazards of tobacco smoke by keeping their homes and cars smoke free.

NHS Rotherham, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, council housing firm 2010 Rotherham and Voluntary Action Rotherham are working together to ensure the success of the scheme.

Nicole, who has shed three stones since stopping smoking, said this week that her house was cleaner, she felt much fitter and had been using the money saved from buying cigarettes to cook healthier meals.

The increased confidence has also helped her to start a business studies degree course.

She added: “Having a smokefree home has really helped me to stop smoking and stay off the cigarettes.

“It has also helped my mum and friends as they can’t smoke in my house anymore so they are cutting down and will hopefully stop altogether one day.

“My advice for people who want to stop smoking is to sign up to Smokefree Homes, tell everyone you have quit, buy lots of mints and keep busy.”

Kaye Mann, NHS Rotherham Smokefree Homes co-ordinator, said: “Stopping smoking can be hard, but having a Smokefree Home can help. 

“You are four times more likely to stop smoking and stay stopped if you make your home smoke free, so signing up to the scheme could be your first step towards stopping smoking.”

For more information visit www.smokefreerotherham.co.uk or contact the Rotherham Stop Smoking Service on 01709 422444.

You can also visit the Quit-Stop at 16 Bridgegate, in Rotherham town centre. No appointment is needed.