Hello my name is Nicole Heller I am a full time momma of two amazing little girls. We love nature, We enjoy going to parks, lakes, fairs, and carnivals and being outside. What we don’t enjoy is walking through clouds of smoke, or having to dodge people who smoke. This past week (September 1st, 2022) my husband and I took our two daughters to the GDS fair, we went a few days before as well. The amount of people who were smoking near children was absolutely mind blowing and disgusting. They were not smoking in the designated areas, instead they were standing right next to children’s rides while smoking while children were trying to enjoy themselves. There was also people walking around blowing smoke towards children, while I understand that may not have been their intention I do not understand why they were not smoking in the designated areas. I think it is selfish and disrespectful to smoke around children, it literally poisons them. Hasn’t anyone heard the saying secondhand smoke kills faster? I told some of the security guards of my concerns and they pretty much brushed me off (not to mention I witnessed a few of them smoking not in designated areas also). The only person who took my complaints serious was the president of the fair, and that is because my husband and myself seen one of the food trucks workers smoke a cigarette (around children at that) then go back into their truck and start touching things like food and cups without even washing their hands. I understand I don’t get to choose if people smoke or not, that is not what I’m trying to do, what I’m trying to do is stop people from smoking around children and help them to have a better/safer/healthier future. Children should not have to breathe in second hand smoke. These organizations and events should have people enforcing the rules of smoking in the designated areas or not smoking at all. Not only is it harmful to their health for many reason, it is gross no child should have to smell it or breathe it in, and children shouldn’t have to miss out on having fun, because of adults who will not follow the rules. Please sign my petition if you feel the same way and share it with others. Thank you.