Protect the health of your children: A guide to making your home and car smokefree

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.

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.
• Children are often not 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: www.smokefree.org.nz/secondhandsmoke or contact your nearest public health unit: www.health.govt.nz/phucontacts

If you need support to stop smoking visit: www.smokefree.org.nz/stopsmokingservices or contact Quitline on 0800 778 778 or text QUIT to 4006.