http://hdl.handle.net/1893/31927 Electronic copies of Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport blog posts/website contributions. 2026-09-25T08:17:19Z http://hdl.handle.net/1893/33221 Title: Smoke-free homes Innovation Network (SHINE) Charter: Priorities for future collaboration Author(s): O'Donnell, Rachel; Semple, Sean; Kroll, Thilo; Frazer, Kate Abstract: First paragraph: The UK and Ireland are both widely regarded as world leaders in tobacco control measures, introducing comprehensive smoke-free public places legislation between 2004 and 2007. Substantial gains were made through these policy changes leading to the near total elimination of second-hand smoke (SHS) in a range of public venues, and increased public support among smokers for such policies. Nearly 20 years on, however, most childrens’ and non-smokers’ exposure to SHS occurs in their own home, and close to 1 in 5 non-smoking adults and nearly one-third of children continue to be exposed to SHS during a typical day. Exposure to SHS is more common in areas of social deprivation. Housing constraints, having friends and family who smoke, sole-parenting and lack of access to safe outdoor space are just some of the wider challenges that make creating a smoke-free home difficult. There is no consensus about the type of interventions that can effectively tackle this inequality, which may have been further exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and ‘stay at home’ lockdown restrictions, leading to an increase in smoking in some homes. 2021-08-04T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1893/31930 Title: COVID-19 and occupational health and safety Author(s): Watterson, Andrew Abstract: First paragraph: Occupational health and safety, a reserved matter, has been a Cinderella in the funding and staffing policies and practices of successive UK governments. Worse than that it has been a specific target in the last decade or more for those wishing to cut red tape. In the argot of the time this meant to deregulate or, in the softer versions, to ‘better regulate’ or ‘smarter regulate’. These policies have damaged inspections, monitoring, information and advice and enforcement on workplace risks arising from established hazards at a time when thousands of workers each year were already dying from occupational diseases and millions had their health damaged by work-caused or work-related factors. 2020-04-08T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1893/31929 Title: Physical activity for children under 5 years during COVID-19: Play your way and keep moving while at home Author(s): Tomaz, Simone; Fawkner, Samantha; Niven, Ailsa; Hanson, Steven; Williamson, Chloë; Kelly, Paul; Hanson, Coral L Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live and for many parents of children under-5, life at home may be upside down, giving new meaning to the word ‘chaos’. Without childcare and facilities for under-5s, parents may feel overwhelmed, whether they were stay-at-home or working parents pre-COVID-19. Watching TV or playing on a tablet may be helpful solutions to entertain a restless toddler (1-2y) or pre-schooler (3-4y), but can mean that they keep still for longer than normal. The benefits of physical activity for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers are well-described in the UK Physical Activity Guidelines. It is also important to try to make sure that our little ones spend minimal time sitting still, and get enough sleep. For 0-5s, the WHO has published guidance for being physically active, limiting sedentary behaviour, and getting good quality sleep in a 24-hour day. In this blog, we focus on the importance of keeping 0-5s physically active, despite the challenges of COVID-19. We deliberately focus on being inside; although if guidelines allow, getting outside is also beneficial. 2020-04-29T00:00:00Z