Bid to coax smokers outside

With tobacco use banned from public places such as pubs health bosses have switched their attention to people who smoke at home.

The health roadshow in Cumbernauld town centre aimed to convince people that invisible chemicals from second-hand smoke linger in a room where there appears to be none.

Town centre shoppers were invited to step into a portable “livingroom” which fills with computer-simulated chemicals when viewed through a tablet.

Through the screen, they can also see the harmful effects these chemicals can have on children’s lung health as the second-hand smoke lingers.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “As 85 per cent of second-hand smoke is invisible and has no smell, it creates a hidden danger most people don’t even consider.

“Scotland recently became the first country in the world to set a target of reducing the proportion of children in Scotland exposed to second-hand smoke in the home from 12 per cent to six per cent by 2020. “ The Scottish Government is flagging up the“augmented-reality technology “ used in the roadshow as a first - and using it as a key aid in an effort to persuade people to bring in voluntary smoke controls in the home.

NHS Lanarkshire consultant paediatrician Dr Carol Dryden said: “We are very happy to welcome the ‘Take It Right Outside’ Roadshow to Lanarkshire.

The vast majority of smokers want to give up and do their best to take their smoking away from their children – for example by opening a window or standing by an open door.”

She added: “However, I think many smokers will be surprised to learn that much of their smoke remains in the room they’re in and will welcome this information.”