Make Your Car Smokefree - English - HE1803-ENG
This resource relates to the following topics:
Leaflet on keeping your car smokefree and and not exposing passengers, especially children, to the risk of second-hand smoke, or to the negative example of smoking. Describes the risks of second-hand smoke, which can increase the likelihood of chest infections and contains many poisons known to cause cancer.
The full resource:
To limit childrenʼs exposure to second-hand smoke, from 28 November 2021 it became illegal to smoke in a vehicle when there are children under the age of 18 present.
Smoking in the car is harmful to your children because:
- 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.
- Young people who have friends/family/whānau who smoke are more likely to become smokers.
Second-hand smoke in your car
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. It contains more than 200 poisons, some of which can cause cancer.
- Winding the window down will not remove all of the poisons.
- The poisons will linger long after the smoke and smell have disappeared.
- Children are often not able to move away from second-hand smoke in a car.
Easy steps to making your car smokefree
- Make a rule – your car is smokefree at all times for everyone.
- Clean out your car ashtray.
- Remove the car cigarette lighter.
- Let other people know – put a Smokefree sticker on your car window.
- Ask your family and whānau to support you by not smoking in your car.
Be a positive role model and donʻt smoke around children at any time. Theyʻll be less likely to become smokers.
smokefree.org.nz/secondhandsmoke
Code: HE1803