Continued support for pregnant women in the region

May 18, 2010 Tags: ,
in Whats Happening |

Mums across the North West are being encouraged to quit smoking in an ad campaign highlighting the dangers of smoking during pregnancy — babies born to mothers who smoke are around 40% more likely to be stillborn or to die within the first four weeks of life.

The ‘My Little Baby’ campaign was launched in March of this year and due to its success the ads will be shown again on Baby TV, in Children Centres and GP surgeries throughout the region. The ‘My Little Baby’ ad offers pregnant women a text service and helpline number that provides the support and guidance they need to quit.

Currently one in five women in the North West (more…)

I Want To Break Free on No Smoking Day with Duncan Bannatyne

March 9, 2010 Tags: ,
in Events, Whats Happening |

YouTube Preview Image
No Smoking Day’s new year-round website for quitters, wequit.co.uk, is now live and inspiring smokers to stay quit with online support – and keep them motivated with a prize draw for a spa weekend for two!
To mark the launch, No Smoking Day president Duncan Bannatyne has re-enacted Queen’s iconic I Want to Break Free video with hilarious results.

Quitters are invited to record their own versions and upload them to wequit.co.uk to win big prizes.

New support for pregnant women as My Little Baby ad campaign launched

March 2, 2010 Tags: ,
in Whats Happening |

A still from My Little Baby: Mums to be across the North West are being encouraged to quit smoking in a new ad campaign launched this week

My Little Baby: Mums to be across the North West are being encouraged to quit smoking in a new ad campaign launched this week

Mums to be across the North West are being encouraged to quit smoking in a new ad campaign launched this week.

The ‘My Little Baby’ campaign highlights the dangers of smoking in pregnancy and offers a new text service and helpline number. One in five women in the North West currently smoke while pregnant- a hazard which increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, still birth and cot death. Every cigarette increases the risks during pregnancy and stopping smoking at any time can instantly make a difference.

Andrea Crossfield, Smokefree North West Director said: “We want to reach out to pregnant women and reassure them that help is available to quit and they are more likely to succeed with support. We urge them to get touch by texting 84025 with their name and postcode or call our helpline free on 0800 0288 316 or seek advice from your midwife who will be able to provide you advice and support.

“The advertisement will run on (more…)

Free NHS quit smoking kits from your NW Asdas

December 30, 2009 Tags:
in Whats Happening |

Selected Asda stores from across the North West are providing 500 free Quit Kits to help people stop smoking in the New Year. The initiative is part of the Department of Health’s New Year quit campaign called ‘Right Tools For The Job’ launched today with new research that shows almost half of smokers (44%) in England have resolved to quit in 2010.

 When asked what would help smokers to quit:

  • more than half (54%) of smokers wanted help to manage cravings
  • one third of smokers wanted tools and advice to strengthen willpower
  • nearly a third (32%) simply want something to do with their hands
  • nicotine gum and patches were the most popular aids to quitting, with 42% of smokers planning on using a Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) such as gum or patches this new year

The new free Quit Kit contains tools that that have either been scientifically proven to help reduce cravings or have been developed in response to smokers’ needs. These include details of Lancashire Stop Smoking Services, where people can access stop smoking medicines and nicotine replacement treatments. Other useful tools include a ‘health & wealth’ wheel to calculate how much money you are saving, a progress chart, a podcast that helps reduce cravings and a number of distraction tools.

(more…)

Penguin launches Smokefree North West campaign in Trafford

December 3, 2009 Tags:
in Partner news, Whats Happening |

Percy the Smokefree Penguin today set out on a tour of the North West to encourage smokers to quit. The North West has more than the national average of smokers with 245 people dying every week from smoking related diseases.

Now Smokefree Northwest is launching a new roadshow which will tour 25 shopping centres across the region aimed at helping people stop smoking. The roadshow is part of a new television advertising campaign ‘One Way Street’ and features Percy the Smokefree Penguin.

The campaign was launched at the Chill Factore indoor real snow ski centre in Trafford, where Percy the Penguin, along with Pat Karney, Director of Smokefree Manchester, and Trafford Stop Smoking Service.

Smoking costs the NHS in the region an estimated £194 million per year and the North West has some of the highest rates in England for deaths from heart disease, stroke, cancer and smoking related illnesses. Over the past ten years, North West Stop Smoking Services have collectively helped 371,693 people quit smoking. It is hoped that hitting the streets to speak to smokers through Percy the Smokefree Penguin and the One Way Street campaign will help drive more people to seek the free NHS support they need to quit smoking.

Percy the Smokefree Penguin and friends

Percy the Smokefree Penguin and friends

Andrea Crossfield, Director of Smokefree Northwest, added: Sadly, more than one third of 17-year-olds in the North West are smokers. Half of those who continue smoking will eventually be killed by their habit.

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