SECOND-HAND SMOKE and CHILDREN

Children are at a higher risk to the effects of second-hand smoke than adults because their lungs are still developing.

Children who breathe other peoples' smoke:
• are more likely to be irritable and cranky;
• are more likely to refuse feedings and spit up;
• inhale more air and harmful chemicals from cigarette smoke than adults because they breathe faster;
• are more likely to have sore eyes, noses and throats;
• cough and wheeze more;
• have more lung infections and other illnesses - Eg: asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia; and
• have more colds, ear and throat infections.

FACTS. . .
• Being exposed to second hand tobacco smoke all day is the same as smoking 2-3 cigarettes per day.
• A non-smoking mother produces more breast milk for her baby.
• Babies exposed to second hand smoke are twice as likely to die of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
• Children of non-smokers are less likely to become smokers themselves.
• People who stop smoking have more money to spend on themselves and their family.

Children depend on the adults around them to provide a safe and healthy environment to live and grow. Children become passive smokers when others smoke around them. Exposure to second-hand smoke, has the same devastating effects as smoking. It is not enough to just open a window or turn on a fan. These efforts will not remove the harmful chemicals and poisons, many of which are odorless, from the air. The only safe choice families have is to remove smoking from the home and from the vehicle. Completely.