Smoker injured in blaze after falling asleep on toilet following night out

A man set fire to his trousers when he fell asleep while smoking a cigarette on the toilet after a night out.
The man, believed to be in his 40s, who had been drinking, awoke to find his trousers on fire burning his legs - but he simply removed them and put them in the sink.

He then fell back to sleep leaving the trousers burning in the sink.

It was only when the smoke alarm starting sounding at around 5.18am yesterday that his wife realised what had happened and called the fire brigade.

Crews from Barnsley attended at the house on Doncaster Road, Kendray, and ensured all members of the family were evacuated safely.

The man was taken to Barnsley District General Hospital by ambulance for treatment for the burns to his legs.

Crew manager Steve Jones said: "Scenarios like this show how important it is not to smoke while under the influence of drink or drugs."

The warning comes as a pensioner was found slumped unconscious in her lounge by firefighters after a carelessly discarded cigarette is believed to have sparked a blaze.

Firefighters went into the burning flat after the alarm was raised by a passer-by who spotted smoke.

The woman, aged in her 70s, was carried out of her flat on William Street, Broomhall, and taken to hospital at 1.45pm yesterday.

District manager Dick Hutton, of South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, said: " This was a very lucky escape.

"I have no doubt that were it not for the swift actions of the passer-by who raised the alarm, our control staff and our firefighters on the scene, this woman would have been killed.

"I am delighted the woman has been saved, but this is tempered with disappointment at yet another smoking-related fire.

"Coming within days of National No Smoking Day, I want to remind the public once again to be careful with all sources of ignition and in particular cigarettes, which are the single biggest cause of deaths in accidental house fires in South Yorkshire."

Fire bosses have revealed six South Yorkshire people have died in house fire caused by smoking in the past six years.

Steve Makepeace, the fire service's head of community safety, said: "Smoking remains the single biggest killer in accidental house fires, but nearly all of these deaths can be avoided by following some basic some simple rules.

"For example, never smoke in bed, never leave a lit cigarette unattended, always ensure that cigarettes are put out properly and keep lighters and matches out of the reach of children.

"Throughout March, we will be offering specialist fire safety advice to smokers, whilst supporting the NHS' own activities aimed at helping smokers to quit, which is the surest way of reducing the risk of fire."

Smoking remains the single biggest killer in accidental house fires.

Source: Sheffield Telegraph - 15 March 2010
Link: http://bit.ly/aTVQDo

Scotland: Legal loophole allows dope pipes to escape display ban

Tough anti-smoking measures could make it easier for people to smoke drugs than tobacco, thanks to a legal loophole.

Pipes will be banned from open sale in shops next year.

However specialist outlets - known as head shops - which sell bongs and water pipes can keep them on display to customers.

Bongs are mostly used to smoke cannabis but can also be adapted for harder drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine.

Under the new laws, tobacconists will have to keep pipes out of sight in a locked cabinet or drawer.

Marco Sinforian, of Kilmarnock, says the pipe ban could put his 100-year-old family tobacconists out of business.

Marco, 42, is calling on the Scottish Government to exempt tobacco pipes from the ban.

He said : "Its plain daft. It means I could sell water pipes to young people from an open display which they could then use to smoke cannabis or even heroin. But a pensioner who wants a new tobacco pipe has to ask to see them. Young people don't use pipes so it is not as if we are encouraging people to smoke."

Simon Clark, director of the smokers' lobby group Forest, said: "The unintended consequences of Scotland's tobacco laws get more bizarre by the day."

But Health Minister Shona Robison said: "We have no plans to amend the regulations to allow the continued display of tobacco pipes. There is separate legislation designed to tackle the use of illegal drugs. The Scottish Government does not support anything which promotes or encourages the use of illegal drugs."

Source: Daily Record - 14 March 2010
Link: http://bit.ly/czrZzl

US Senate approves Internet sales ban

The U.S. Senate on Thursday unanimously approved legislation to curtail the sales of tax-evading, low-cost cigarettes and other tobacco products over the Internet and through the mail. 

Health groups allege Internet sales of tobacco products make it easier and cheaper for children to buy cigarettes, facilitate tax evasion and cost governments billions in revenue.

The legislation will require Internet sellers to pay all federal, state, local or tribal tobacco taxes and affix tax stamps before delivery to any customer; mandate that the age and identification of purchasers be checked at purchase and at delivery; require Internet vendors to comply with state and local laws as if they were located in the same state as their customers; and ban the delivery of tobacco products through the U.S. mail, among other things.

The bill’s passage represents a defeat for the Seneca Nation Indian tribe in New York, which dominates the mail order cigarette business. The Senecas asserted that the bill would cost more than 1,000 jobs.

Source: Tobacco Reporter - 15 March 2010
Link: http://bit.ly/aFYoNY

Give 18 certificate to any film with a smoking scene, demand campaigners

Films that feature smoking should be given an automatic 18 rating to protect teenagers against taking up the habit, according to a new study.

The analysis of hundreds of films released in the past decade found that young Britons see more cigarette use in movies than their US counterparts because the UK censors judge more films to be family friendly. 

Researchers warn that the more smoking adolescents witness onscreen, the more their chances of taking up the habit increases, with those who see the most tobacco use about three times more likely to start smoking than those who watch the least.

The study, compiled by Dr Christopher Millett of Imperial College London and Professor Stanton Glantz of California University, advocated an overhaul of the ratings system.

"Awarding an 18 rating to films that contain smoking would create an economic incentive for motion picture producers to simply leave smoking out of films developed for the youth market," the study concluded.

The researchers assessed the number of onscreen smoking or tobacco occurrences in 572 top grossing films in the UK between 2001 and 2006, including 546 screened in the United States, plus 26 high-earning films released only in the UK.

They then divided the total box office earnings of each film by the year's average ticket price to calculate the estimated number of "tobacco impressions" delivered to audiences for each film.

Among the films assessed, over two thirds featured tobacco. Of these more than nine out of ten were classified as suitable for adolescents (15 or 12A) under the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) system.

The study, which will be published in Tobacco Control, found that in all, 5.07 billion tobacco impressions were delivered to UK cinema-going audiences during the period, of which 4.49 billion were delivered in 15 and 12A rated films.

Because 79 per cent of the films rated only for adults in the US (R) were classified as suitable for young people in the UK young Britons were exposed to 28 per cent more smoking impressions in 15 or 12A rated movies than their US peers.

Dr Millett said: "The decision to classify a film as appropriate for youths clearly has economic benefits for the film industry.

"A film classification policy that keeps on-screen smoking out of films rated suitable for youths … would reduce this exposure for people under 18 years of age and probably lead to a substantial reduction in youth smoking."

However, Sue Clark, spokeswoman for the BBFC, said imposing an 18 rating on films which feature scenes of smoking is "not going to happen".

She said: "Sometimes smoking is included in a film for reasons of historical accuracy.The only time we would consider stepping in is if we felt a film was actively promoting smoking. But I have never seen a film that did that."

Source: The Scotsman - 16 March 2010
Link: http://bit.ly/9Mrev1

Drivers warned over smoking at wheel

Smokers who light up behind the wheel are being asked to stub out their cigarettes to help them stay safe when travelling on Lancashire's roads.
The Highway Code regards smoking as a distraction.

It is within the law to smoke a cigarette, read a map, enjoy a snack or adjust your radio while driving.

But if you are involved in a collision or endanger other road users, these habits could lead to you being charged with careless or dangerous driving.

This could lead to a fine, driving ban or even prison.

Carol Melhuish, road safety adviser, said: "A driver travelling at 30mph will travel nearly 54 metres in the four seconds it takes to pick up or light a cigarette. This is more than enough time to be involved in a crash or hit a pedestrian.

"If you crash while your hands are off the wheel or you're not watching the road while you light or fumble for a dropped cigarette, then the police may prosecute you."

Source: The Gazette - 15 March 2010
Link: http://bit.ly/cwPR4A

Rennie teams up with Sheffield FC to give smoking the red card

UniBond League Division One South club Sheffield FC has teamed up with former Premier League referee Uriah Rennie and NHS Derbyshire County to give smoking the red card for National No Smoking Day. 

Sheffield FC community coaches John Pemberton, the son of Crystal Palace’s assistant-manager, and Derek Dooley, the grandson of the Sheffield footballing legend, watched on as a giant cigarette was ordered off the Sheffield FC pitch by Rennie, who also dealt Alan Shearer his first red card in a Newcastle v Aston Villa match in 1999.

Guy Higton, Head of Brand at Sheffield FC, said: “Staying fit and healthy is part of a footballer’s job but now more and more people are recognizing the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and kicking smoking into touch.

“At one time it was thought cool to smoke but now everyone realises the serious damage it does to your health so the goal for any smoker must be to quit or best of all don’t even start.”

Last year, more than 4,838 people kicked the habit with help from Derbyshire County Stop Smoking Service.

Tina Jones from Derbyshire County Stop Smoking Service said: “We are delighted that Sheffield FC are helping us to push these messages because young people really look up to their role models and it’s fantastic that our local football team are helping us to promote the stop smoking message.

“Smoking can increase fatigue and can stop youngsters reaching their full athletic potential. It’s important for young people to remember this if they have aspirations of being like their heroes.”

“We know there are lots of people out there who want to stop smoking but are just too afraid to take that first step.”

“No Smoking Day is a great opportunity to take that first step to becoming smoke free. Last year over 1 million smokers made a quit attempt on No Smoking Day. Why not take the opportunity to make No Smoking Day 2010 the day you break free from the smoking habit. People who stop smoking with the help of the free NHS Stop Smoking Service are up to four times more likely to be successful.”

Source: Non League Daily - 15 March 2010
Link: http://bit.ly/d7mfaG