Children are getting in the swim to protect them from second-hand smoke.

Swim time with Jenny’s Bear is an initiative between NHS Lanarkshire and North Lanarkshire Leisure (NLL) which involves parents helping their children to learn to swim and gives tips on how to make homes and cars smoke free.

Lynn Adams, health improvement senior from the smoking prevention team, who oversees the initiative, said: “Children exposed to second-hand smoke are a lot more at risk of coughs, colds, ear problems, chest infection and asthma, because their lungs and immune systems are still developing.

“This fun interactive programme gives parents hints and tips on how to make their home and car smoke free and protect their family from the harmful effects of tobacco.”

The programme takes place in the Time Capsule in Coatbridge and the John Smith Sports Centre in Airdrie and aims to:

• Encourage and increase parent/child interaction
• Develop positive relationships between parents and children
• Increase parent knowledge of second-hand smoke
• Increase parent and child physical activity levels.

Michael Robertson, head swim coach at NLL, said: “It’s important that parents understand that while learning to swim, children require healthy lungs, free from the dangerous effects of second-hand smoke.”