DO PEOPLE DIE FROM ASTHMA?

Yes.

In 1990 Christina and Peter Swetnam's 9 month old baby William was hospitalized after an asthma attack. He nearly died after being at a family gathering where people smoked. Quick action by the family saved his life.

Christina Swetnam, mother of William, a baby with asthma. 

"At that time people didn't know how harmful smoking could be," Christina said in Hantsport on Tuesday. She attended a gathering at town hall to celebrate the town's new Second Hand Smoking Bylaw in support of Smoke Free Kings (S.F.K.) Council passed it on November 5, 2013.

Sheila Levy cuts the cake at the celebration with Mayor Rob Zwicker. 

SFK provided the cake.

It is the first in the province to be inclusive. Its definition now includes e-cigarettes. And it applies to   not only outdoor recreation areas but also bus stops.

William's asthma continued for many years and was a constant concern for everyone. He eventually became an ambassador of the Lung Association. This led Christina to join SFK. At that time the group focused on stopping smoking indoors. Its long term goal is to stop smoking in the county.

Now age 23, William still has asthma. His lungs now are 4x bigger than they were as an infant. And he is better able to control the asthma. Meghan, his twin sister, is studying environmental science in Guelph.

Christina of Sheffield Mills and Sheila Levy of Hants Border are co-chairs of SFK. Although Hantsport is in Kings County, Sheila was anxious to get it involved in the program.

Hantsport School also became involved. Students vividly expressed their attitudes to smoking in their posters. The bylaw is intended to ensure everyone's health. But it is primarily aimed at safeguarding children from the dangers of second hand smoke.