There is an increasing number of adults choosing to endanger our children by smoking at parks in Noblesville, IN. This alarming trend is not just a minor inconvenience—it's a significant health threat to our young ones. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), secondhand smoke (SHS) dramatically increases the risk of lower respiratory infections in children by about 50%, which is responsible for 150,000 to 300,000 cases annually in the United States. Out of these, 7,500 to 15,000 cases result in hospitalization.

Secondhand smoke does more than just affect the lungs. It is a known trigger for asthma, increasing a child's asthma risk by 21% to 85%. As a result, children not only suffer from more frequent asthma attacks but also endure higher instances of ear infections, which can impact their hearing and learning. Moreover, infants are at a threefold increased risk of succumbing to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) when exposed to SHS.

Our city parks, especially playgrounds, should be safe havens for our children, not zones of health distress. It's crucial to keep these spaces smoke-free so that they can flourish without the threat of hazardous smoke. By implementing a ban on smoking in parks near playgrounds in Noblesville, we can protect our children from these dangers and ensure clean, healthy environments for them to play and grow.

Indianapolis parks officially banned smoking (including e-cigarettes) effective July 1, 2021, after the City-County Council passed a measure in May 2021. Carmel parks banned smoking in 2019. Fishers in 2018. We are behind the times compared to the rest of the area. 

Help us to make a change that will positively impact the well-being of our community's children. Sign this petition to urge local authorities to take action and ban smoking at parks near playgrounds in Noblesville, IN. Together, we can create a safer, healthier future for our children.