Smoking in Childrens Playgrounds... Grr..

I don't really have a problem with smokers since I've got friends and an aunt who smoke. However, I think adults should avoid smoking around children. Partly because it negates the "Just Say No" policy we teach in schools and children learn by observing adults. Also, secondhand smoking is one of the leading causes of lung cancer in addition to causing problems for asthmatic people. I'd rather not witness another asthma attack or have smoke irritating my throat and lungs (not good since I sing every day).

If someone's going to smoke I think they should do it in a designated area and not around the play area.

I hate when people smoke around children. I used to smoke and I never smoked around my kids(I always walked away) and never at a playground. I think it is selfish. As far as running with a cigarette that is just dumb. How bad does a person need one? I don't know if there are laws about smoking in play areas but there should be all over the country!

I think some people are simply rude, be they smokers or not. If they're non-smokers, they just don't have quite as many opportunities to ACT on their rudeness ;)

I'm a smoker, I do my best to be away and downwind from other people when I light up.

I get mad about this too. Yes, it's a free country.. You are perfectly free to do whatever you want as long as it doesn't infringe on MY rights. I am really allergic to cigarettes. Sad thing is, my parents smoked while I was a kid too. Cigarettes now are soo much different now than they were even 20 years ago. Back then, they were mostly tobacco with different blends. Now, they have all sorts of chemicals and additives to make tobacco companies that extra buck. I have had a reaction to smokers standing 10 feet away. They just happened to be upwind, and their smoke was blowing at me. Luckily, I had my inhaler... but people who don't have allergies can't understand how agonizing it can be to have a reaction. They think it's no big deal, but it HURTS!!! It would have been a lot less trouble for the smokers to have smoked in the designated area than for me to have suffered an attack. I don't go around shoving wads of gum (MY addiction. lol) in people's mouths if they don't stay away from me, why should they have the right to force me to inhale their smoke?

This JUST happened to us today, nice day out so sure park was congested, no biggie, kids were playing nice and taking turns but I swear adults left and right lighting up...I had my 3 year old on the swings and a man came over and put his child on one and lit up while he was pushing his kid in the swing...blows my mind.
I too wish there was a law saying smoking restricted in parks and play areas.

Last I checked it is a free country. The playground is outside right so I
really would not worry too much. I keep hearing about second hand
smoke. Well mmy husband and I were both raised in a four room apt.
We each had two parents that smoked like chimneys. Two packs a
day by each Mom and each Dad. By all accounts, according to everyone,
we should be dead and should have been a long time ago. We are 60 and
68 and both very healthy! We are slowly losing our freedoms. Instead of
creating chaos and wanting laws, just ask the offender to put the cig out.

I agree with you. But this won't be up long before a smoker reports you for posting this.

My husband and I had this exact conversation today. We were at Disney World with our 2 year old and the man in front of us was smoking. Today there was enough room that we just moved to the other side and walked around him, but other times, when it is more crowded I have said something before. I am 9 months pregnant and our 2 year old has asthma, Disney World has designated smoking areas and smoking is not permitted in other areas of the park.
Neither of us have ever smoked, or lived with a smoker, we do have a couple of friends that smoke outside their houses, but never around us or our children.
My husband said that we were outside and it was fine, other than it smelling bad we could move away just as easily as the person smoking, and why cause a disturbance.
I said that not only do I not want myself or my children breathing in even a miniscule amount of second hand smoke, it is also against the "rules of Disney" it is mentioned many times throughout the park, as well as labeled on all maps where the smoking areas are. I think that as long as I am kind about the way I approach the subject I am well within my rights to mention that smoking is not permitted in the area we are in.

I hate seeing people at parks and playgrounds smoking, even though we are outside I feel like if I can smell it, it's doing harm.

there definitely should be, if there aren't. our cities in the KC area have started passing 'no smoking outside in public places' laws which might take care of that. i am a former smoker, and while the restrictions are getting more and more ridiculous imo, it's due to people like you encountered today. grrr!! if people would be respectful there would be no need to make these laws that punish everyone else. idiots. that's super trashy.

There are so many smokers where we live. I never have the nerve to ask people not to do it at a park, but it irks me. I have had acquaintances light up in front of my kids and I don't hesitate to ask them to smoke elsewhere. I agree completely with you, but I don't have a good solution!

I was a smoker before I got pregnant (and will admit that now that I'm not pregnant it's VERY hard to avoid that one cigarette when I go out with my friends, but so far I have prevailed. I figured if I quit, I might as well keep it that way cause it was SO hard to quit and was only motivated because the baby was more important to me. But, I digress). My boyfriend is currently a smoker along with ALL of his friends and family. I think it is completely inappropriate to be smoking around people who obviously aren't smokers. I was always thoughtful about when and where I smoked. Even at bars where it was allowed (the bans just now started passing in St. Louis) I would try to be aware of the non-smokers around me and make sure that the smoke did not blow on their faces. I even voted for the smoking ban as I had no problem as a smoker going outside to smoke and usually at least one of my friends were willing to go outside with me. It makes inside of bars so stuffy anyway that it's not as enjoyable. If I was on a kids playground, I probably wouldn't have even brought the cigarettes, but left them in my car or at home. Nobody wants to be exposing those still developing lungs to something so harmful. I would've been extremely upset if I had seen this woman and unlike you, I probably would've politely said something to her. It's just not considerate. Smokers do have a right to smoke and make that choice, but non-smokers also have a right to their good health that they choose to have. If you choose to smoke, accept that it's not healthy and keep your smoke to yourself.

My boyfriend has even gone so far as to always wash his hands and he wears a "smoking layer" (which I don't know how affective it actually is) that he'll strip off before he comes in and touchs our baby.

The thing that gets me about it is it isn't like any of spend our whole day at a play ground. I mean really, what are we there like 30 minutes, maybe and hour? I just don't get why someone couldn't just wait, ya know? I don't have anything against smokers either, but running around with a cig, chasing a kid is a fire hazard! So I am with you, not cool around the kids. Let's give 'em a fighting chance!

I'm with you. I think people should be ticketed for smoking on playgrounds and schoolgrounds. I did not consent for my child to be subjected to secondhand smoke, and since I was pregnant, for some reason, the smell makes me gag and still does. Gross.

I agree that playgrounds should be smoke free. Picnic areas I'm so-so, but a playground is for kids and just because they are outside doesn't make smoking there okay.

I actually probably would have said something... lol

Smoking definitely shouldn't be allowed at a kids' play area. If there isn't a law, there should be! I would call your city council or whoever maintains that playground & ask. If it's not a current rule, I would ask about making it one.

My husband smokes (been "quitting" for 5 years...lol) but he always goes away from other people, especially kids.

Next time you could always say something about you or your child being allergic to smoke. That's another thing that irritates me about smokers. Even if they are smoking around adults, people can be allergic to it. I had a roommate in college who was allergic to it pretty bad. My sister is also allergic to it. I just plain can't breathe around it.

I am with you, second hand smoke is worst, parks are for kids and if you can wait half hour to smoke you have issues and are rude an selfish.
Besides, when I am in the park sometimes I have to catch my kid or hold her to go up or things like that, how are you going to do that with one cigarette in your hand and take chances to burn your kid, or to put your hand down and a kid run next to you and burn him self.
Grrrr.
I am surprise that here in NJ is not allow to smoke in so many places but not in the parks where little kids play, really?

I would certainly say something...law or not. second hand smoke is unhealthy for kids period.

It's illegal in some parks. You have to check in your area. Some people just don't care how other people feel. You can always lie and say you or your child is allergic. We don't come across it very often in our area, so we're able to pass it off as one of those stinky things in life you just have to smell sometimes. We've never made an issue of it, but sometimes my kids say, "YUCK STINKY SMOKE!" :)

Wow, people are so damn selfish. I smoke a little but NEVER around my daughter. I smoke after I drop her off at the babysitters and outside when she's taking a nap or asleep at bedtime... I would never smoke around anyones child... the fact that people smoke around their own child disturbs me, but to smoke around anothers child... hell yeah I'd say something... that's inconsiderate. I developed huge asthma problems in middle school because my parents smoked around me and was allergic to their particular brand of cigarette (don't ask, I was just told that lol). These selfish people have no idea if someone's child could be allergic or have horrible asthma. How fricken selfish! Call the cops and ask what the laws are pertaining to smoking near playgrounds, and if there aren't any write to your senator AND ask them people to have some dern respect for others, especially other children.

In CA you have to be 50 ft from the playground to smoke. I bet if you would have mentioned it nicely to the offenders they would have put their cigs out.

Check your park entrances, parking lot, bathroom area, etc. In my town, there are no smoking signs posted. If there are signs, you're correct to ask them to stop. Heck, you're saving them some grief by keeping them from getting caught.

The only time it's banned around here is when it's a drought situation and the playground mulch would be prone to catching fire but most don't smoke around playgrounds around here.

I agree..My hubby is a smoker & hate it (we argue about his habit)he goes outside to the garage or driveway typically I call the kids inside while he goes to smoke then afterwards they can go back out.When we are at the playground or school for a function he'll be by the car away from others if they are near by he'll walk further away from them.However there are signs posting NO SMOKING,but smokers will light up where ever they are unless someone asks them to put it out or tell them that SMOKING isn't allowed here.I go to my son's school all the time for school activies & as usual there is at least a few smokers who will light up right there at the front door, really can it wait till you get into your own vehicle & light up to stink your own self up I don't want to smell it or stink, but they fail to think of others.Like I said my hubby smokes & after much arguing & yelling I do with him not to smoke around near or infront of them he is finallly getting it.He is the only person who smokes in my family,& out of his siblings.

and how muchmore descimination should a smoker take before the rebel???? you asked i smoke on the benches but come on guys we are outside and you cant force an addicted person to quit a habit i am sick and tired of all the descrimintation we get if it was a black race issue or a mexican race issue people would sue but society belives it is ok to treat a smoker like trash and give them dirty looks and mouth off to them and tell them what horrible parents we are for smoking ENOUGH ALREADY

i am astmatic and smoke cause i cant break the addiction. but my asthma is flaired by the chemicals you use to clean your house not by smoke. if i walked in to your house and you had just cleaned polished furniture vacumned, mopped your floor with pinesol and vacumed your house with smell good stuff I could walk into your house and go into an instant asthma attack. what you guys dont realize the cleaning supplies you buy is worse for the kids than smoke. but you clean with your kids in the house exposing them to the chemicals i keep out of my house. so who is the worse culprit here the smoker or you people that use chemical religiously to clean your house your kid has no choice but to breath in the chemicals you use to clean your house with. and if i was to walk into your house after you just cleaned with chemicals i would have to take the second level up from an inhaler to get my asthma to calm down. so before you criticize smokers quit using chemicals in your house. all business are allowed to use chemicals to clean thier business but all of us asthmatics have to breath it in.

Fact is if there is not a sign saying no smoking allowed in park there is nothing being done wrong. They have the right to smoke where ever they want.

We used to have play dates at a local park and there was always someone around smoking. The high school kids would come to the park to ditch and go in some of the toys and smoke pot. We always called the Police but by the time they would get there the kids would be gone.

We eventually chose to have our play dates in our Cultural Hall at church until we were told it wasn't proper use of the church building. So several of us stopped going to that church, everyone but our kids were allowed to use the building for personal things like family basketball, family home evening, etc...just our group of kids were not allowed. The other ladies moved away. There are other choices for play, such as indoor playgrounds where smoking is not allowed.

Chances are things weren't the same as they are now when she started smoking. It used to be you could smoke anywhere. There aren't too many people the *start smoking nowadays. I'm sure shes aware of the fact that its no longer the norm but to her it is a physical addiction that needs to be feed and as long as shes outside, its legal.

Several parks in my area (NJ) have signs that say no smoking in or near playgrounds.

Many smokers are more considerate but not all. My father who has smoked for decades lit up once near my oldest. After some angry words from me he has never done it again (5 years and counting). But I'd say something politely to a stranger.

"excuse me, ma'am? Could you please smoke somewhere else? I don't want my daughter exposed to your second hand smoke. Thanks"
Here, in Washington, it's illegal to smoke at state parks. Don't know if playgrounds count. But, most likely if you had asked her to put out her smoke she would have looked at you funny and put it out. Unless she was a rude b!tch, and then you move away from her.

I know here in San Diego its illegal to smoke in a park or on school grounds.