Protect the health of your children: A guide to making your home and car smokefree - HE1802
On keeping your home and car smokefree and being a positive role model against smoking. Describes the risks of second-hand smoke, especially to children, as it can increase the likelihood of chest infections and contains many poisons known to cause cancer.
The full resource:
What’s the issue?
Smoking around children and young people is harmful.
Why?
- They will be exposed to second-hand smoke, and children who breathe in second-hand smoke are more likely to develop illnesses such as chest infections, glue ear and asthma.
- Exposure to second-hand smoke increases the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI).
- Young people who have friends/family/whānau who smoke are more likely to become smokers.
From 28 November 2021 it became illegal to smoke in a vehicle that has children in it.
Second-hand smoke
Second-hand smoke contains more than 200 poisons, some of which can cause cancer.
Second-hand smoke is a mix of smoke from the burning end of a cigarette plus the smoke blown into the air by the person smoking.
- The concentration of some poisons is higher in second-hand smoke than in the smoke being breathed in by the smoker.
- The lungs and body weight of children are small so the poisons found in second-hand smoke are more harmful to them.
- Babies and young children may not be able to move away from second-hand smoke.
Second-hand smoke in your home and car
- Opening or winding down a window will not remove all of the poisons.
- The poisons will linger long after the smoke and smell have disappeared.
Easy steps to making your home and car smokefree
- Make a rule – your home and car are smokefree at all times for everyone.
- Remove all ashtrays from your home.
- Clean out your car ashtray.
- Remove the cigarette lighter from your car.
- Let other people know – put Smokefree/Auahi Kore stickers on your windows.
- Ask your family and whānau to support you by not smoking in your home and car.
Be a positive role model and don’t smoke around children at any time. They’ll be less likely to become smokers.
For further information visit smokefree.org.nz/secondhandsmoke or contact your nearest public health unit health.govt.nz/phucontacts
If you need support to stop smoking visit quitstrong.nz or contact Quitline on 0800 778 778 or text QUIT to 4006
Code: HE1802