A
is for Avoiding SHS |
|
Kids
should avoid Secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) or secondhand
smoke, as it is also called. They are especially
sensitive to SHS because their immune systems and lungs
are not fully grown. Secondhand smoke comes from
exhaled smoke and the burning ends of cigarettes, cigars,
and pipes. It is one of the most harmful indoor
air pollutants known.
|
| B
is because SHS increased kids' chances for: |
Respiratory infection such as bronchitis and pneumonia
|
Slower growth and lung development
|
Eye, nose, and throat irritation
|
Chronic middle ear infections
|
Asthma attacks- SHS may cause more than 25,000
new cases of asthma in the U.S. each year
|
Coughs, phlegm and wheezing
|
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
|
| C
is for Creating a smoke-free atmosphere for kids: |
If you smoke, smoke outside
|
Patronize smoke-free eating establishments and
lodging facilities
|
Don't smoke in the car when children (or other
nonsmokers) are present
|
Let visitors to your home know that you don't smoke
near your children and ask them to
go outside if they want to smoke. Explain that you
are not asking them to quit, but that
you don't want your children exposed to the smoke. |
Patronize smoke-free eating establishments and
lodging facilities
|
In public places where smoking is prohibited politely
ask people who are smoking to put out
their cigarettes. If they don't ask the manager to take
action.
|
Praise businesses that are smoke free
|
| D
is for Deadly |
In
one study, secondhand tobacco smoke has been implicated
in 53,000 deaths of non-smokers
each year in the U.S. due to cancer, respiratory problems,
and heart disease. Over 4,700 chemical
compounds are found in tobacco smoke. Of these, 43 are
known to cause cancer in humans.
The following are just a few of the chemicals in environmental
tobacco smoke:
|
Acetone
|
Carbon
Monoxide |
Nitrogen
Dioxide |
Ammonia
|
Formaldehyde* |
Phenol |
Arsenic
|
Hydrogen
Cyanide* |
Stearic
Acid |
Benzene*
|
Methanol |
Sulfur
Dioxide |
Butane
|
Methyl
Chloride |
Tars* |
Cadminum*
|
Nicotine |
Vinyl
Chloride |
|
* Known
carcinogens
|
| It
doesn't take long to fill the air with SHS! |
It
takes just a few people smoking to send a steady stream
of SHS into the air. Indoors the stream is filled
with tiny particles and deadly gases that affect everyone
breathing the contaminated air. Studies show SHS
spreads rapidly throughout buildings and homes and can
stay for long periods of time.
|
Protect
the health of children by keeping them away from environmental
tobacco smoke.
|
It's
as easy as ABC!
|
| For
more Information: |
|
Tobacco Prevention Control Program, Utah Department
of Health 1.877.220.3466 |
|
American
Heart Association 1.800.AHA.USA1 |
|
American
Lung Association 1.800.LUNGUSA |
| American
Cancer Society 1.800.ACS.2345
|
|
Source:
Tobacco Prevention and Control Program, Utah Department
of Health, 2001 |
|
