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what
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•••
TIMELY
Tips and
Helpful
Suggestions for YOU and YOUR
FAMILY
•
Smoking and Pregnancy
Mounting evidence indicates that smoking during
pregnancy is not only harmful to the mother, but also
harmful to the growth and development of the yet un–
born baby.
According toa British report , "Mothers who smoke
during pregnancy tend to have smaller babies than non–
smokers and may be more likely to lose their babies
from abortion, stillbirths and dea ths in the first days of
life"
(Smoking and Health Now,
A Report of the Royal
College of Physicians, 1971). Similar conclusions were
reached in a 1971 report to the Surgeon General of the
United States, called
The Health Consequences ofSmoking.
Another British report, this one a long- term study,
included 98 percent of the total births registered during
one week in March 1958 throughout England, Scotland,
and Wales. I nvestiga tors found that the children of
mothers who were heavy smokers during pregnancy
showed significantly decreased height , retardation of
reading ability, and lower ratings on "social adjust–
ment" than the children of nonsmoking mothers
(Sec–
ond Report of the British Perinata/ Mortality Survey,
1969).
In an American study at Texas A
&
M Universi ty,
103 boys and girls ages 6 through 13 years old were sub–
jected lo a smoking environment to find out what effects
smoking has on nonsmokers.
It
was discovered that in
30 minutes a nonsmoker's heart rate increases, his blood
pressure goes up, and the amount of carbon monoxide
in his blood roounts up roeasurably.
Overall it was disclosed that the smoking environ–
ment's effect upon the nonsmoker is similar to cigarette
smoke's effect upon the smoker himself, but on a re–
duced seale. The obvious implication is that even if the
expectant mother doesn' t smoke, but dad does. the yet
unboro baby may still be somewhat harmed.
What should be done in the light of these facts is
obvious. Tf you smoke, you should quit, not only for
your sake and those immediately around you, but also
for the sake of any unborn children. For the help you
need on how to break the cigarette habit and for an
in–
depth study on other effects of smoking, write for our
free booklet
You Can Quit Smoking.
PLAIN TRUTH March 1973
•
Warning: Escalators Can Be
Dangerous!
Escalators are normally safe, convenient ways of
getting from one ftoor to another. But for sorne 1,000
people this year (mostly children six and under), usua lly
safe escalators will become maiming. mangling, ampu–
tating, metal monsters.
Not too long ago, a tragic accideot involving a little
two-year-old boy occurred on an escalator at a railroad
station. The toddler, who was with his mother, fell off
the escalator as it neared the end of its ci rcuit . His tiny
right hand caught in the escalator and passed under the
comb plate along with the las t escalator step. His fourth
finger was ripped off.
Children, as well as adults, have lost fingers or toes,
or have had hands or feet badly crushed in escalators.
One small child, whose parent allowed him to ride an
escalator all the way to the end, sitting down, had his
bottom badly torn.
These are tragic incidents. But even more tragic is
the fact that these accidents could have been prevented.
Don't Jet a similar occurrence mar your child . Follow
these simple escalator riding rules, and teach them to
your child:
Always observe the " Please Hold Handrail"
sign. Stand sti ll in the middle of the step. Do not
walk up or down. (This rule does not apply in
sorne a reas. In London's underground train sys–
tem, for instance, it is customary to stand to the
side of the escalator steps so that others in a hurry
can free!y pass you on the stairs.) Do not lean over
the handrail, or lean against it.
When riding an escalator with a small child,
hold his hand and have him hold the handrail
with his other hand. Hold little toddlers in your
arms. Never allow your child to sit on escalator
steps. Never allow your child to play on or around
escalators. An escalator is not a plaything or a
ba bysitter.
- Patrick A. Parnell
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