To: The Maine State House, The Maine State Senate, and Governor Janet Mills
Child Abuse should include second hand smoke.
Change the law and definition of child abuse to include secondhand smoke.
Greetings,
I'm representing the citizens of the State of Maine in asking you to change the laws dealing with child abuse. Child abuse means harm or threatened harm to a child's health or welfare that occurs through non-accidental physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or maltreatment, by a parent, a legal guardian, or any other person responsible for the child's health or welfare or by a teacher, a teacher's aide, or a member of the clergy. The key word in that statement is health. The state of Maine does not include second hand smoke as a form of child abuse. Even thought the health effect can be devistating to young lungs and respritory systems.
The health effects of secondhand smoke are indisputable. In children, exposure increases asthma attacks, contributes to sudden infant death syndrome and leads to respiratory infections. In adults, it can cause heart attacks, heart disease and lung cancers. With over 250 toxic chemicals, 50 of which cause cancer. It's your choice if you want to smoke, but our children have no say in the matter.
Anybody can under the urge of protecting our states youth. Preventing health problems at an early stage will not only improve the quality of life for them later, but give them a normal healthy childhood. As well as save the state money in the healthcare budget. Governor LePage and the State of Maine, change the law of child abuse to include second hand smoke.
Why is this important?
Child abuse means harm or threatened harm to a child's health or welfare that occurs through non-accidental physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or maltreatment, by a parent, a legal guardian, or any other person responsible for the child's health or welfare or by a teacher, a teacher's aide, or a member of the clergy. The key word in that statement is health. The State of Maine does not include second hand smoke as a form of child abuse. Even thought the health effect can be devistating to young lungs and respritory systems. Please join me in asking the state to change the defintion of child abuse to include second hand smoke.
The health effects of secondhand smoke are indisputable. In children, exposure increases asthma attacks, contributes to sudden infant death syndrome and leads to respiratory infections. In adults, it can cause heart attacks, heart disease and lung cancers. With over 250 toxic chemicals, 50 of which cause cancer. It's your choice if you want to smoke, but our children have no say in the matter.
Let's come together for the common cause of protecting our states youth. Though second hand smoke may not be intentional child abuse, it still harms the overall health and welfare of the child. Preventing health problems at an early stage will not only improve the quality of life for them later, but give them a normal healthy childhood. Governor LePage and the State of Maine, change the law of child abuse to include second hand smoke.