Smoking during pregnancy is the largest preventable cause of ill-health and death in young babies and infants.

Statistics from the 2010 Infant Feeding Survey show that in Northern Ireland 28% of mothers smoked in the 12 months before pregnancy. It is encouraging that of those mothers who smoked before or during pregnancy, approximately half gave up at some point before the birth of their baby. Sadly, 15% didn’t stop and continued to smoke during pregnancy [see reference].

Now that schools are finished for the summer and parents are thinking of activities to keep their children entertained, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding families about the importance of washing hands after visiting the farm.

All animals naturally carry a range of organisms, some of which can be transmitted to people. Some organisms which may be contracted on farms present a serious hazard and can potentially cause severe infection, particularly in young children.

To reduce the risk of illness, both adults and children should wash their hands thoroughly using soap and water after they have handled animals or touched surfaces at the farm and always before eating or drinking.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging everyone in Northern Ireland to “spell it out” when it comes to their organ donation wishes by telling their family and friends that they want to be a donor and by signing the NHS Organ Donor Register.

The call coincides with National Transplant Awareness Week, which runs from 7-13 July.

Dr Eddie Rooney, Chief Executive of the PHA and Chair of the Northern Ireland Committee for Organ Donation, said: “There have been great improvements in donation over recent years in Northern Ireland. In 2013/14 we had a record number of live kidney donations and associated transplants (53 in 12/13 to 61 in 13/14) and an increase in deceased donations (40 in 12/13 to 46 in 13/14).

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging caution on the use of electronic cigarettes, known as ‘e-cigarettes’, saying it is too early to determine whether suggested benefits outweigh potential risk.

Devices currently on the market do not meet appropriate standards of safety and quality. The level of risk associated with their use is not known. Their contents are particularly dangerous for children, and if swallowed, could be potentially fatal.

Gerry Bleakney, Strategic Lead for Tobacco Control at the PHA, said: “The Public Health Agency recommends that members of the public who wish to stop smoking and are ready to do so should avail of one of over 600 free stop smoking services across Northern Ireland, commissioned by the PHA. These services, based in community pharmacies, GP surgeries, hospitals, community centres and workplaces, provide personal support and free nicotine replacement therapy, such as gum or patches. 

With the recent spell of good weather, the Public Health Agency (PHA) and Cancer Focus Northern Ireland are reminding people who work outdoors to ensure that they protect themselves from skin damage that may result from sun exposure.

Sun protection was recently the focus of an event at Greenmount College led by PHA and Cancer Focus NI, with representatives from a diverse range of outdoor occupations.