Tobacco Control Program

What Can I Do to Protect my Family from Secondhand Smoke?

Secondhand smoke (SHS) has been classified as a Group A carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a rating used only for substances proven to cause cancer in humans. The Surgeon General has concluded that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Breathing even a little secondhand smoke can be harmful. The Surgeon General has concluded that the only way to fully protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of secondhand smoke is through 100% smoke-free environments. It is important to protect yourself and your family from secondhand smoke.

PROTECTING YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY

Here are some ways to protect yourself and your family from secondhand smoke from the EPA & Surgeon General:

• Don't smoke in your home.
• Ask other people not to smoke in your home, especially baby-sitters or others who may care for your children.
• Ask smokers to go outside while they smoke.
• Ask people not to smoke around you and your children.
• If someone must smoke inside, limit him or her to rooms where windows can be opened or fans can be used to send the smoke outside.
• Help people who are trying to quit smoking.
• Don’t allow smoking in your vehicle.
• Make sure that your children’s day care center or school is smoke-free.
• Choose restaurants and other businesses that are smoke-free. Thanking businesses for being smoke-free. Letting owners of businesses that are not smoke-free know that secondhand smoke is harmful to your family’s health.
• Teaching children to stay away from secondhand smoke.
• Avoid secondhand smoke exposure especially if you or your children have respiratory conditions, if you have heart disease, or if you are pregnant.
• Talking to your doctor or healthcare provider more about the dangers of secondhand smoke.
• If you are a smoker, the single best way to protect your family from secondhand smoke is to quit smoking. In the meantime, you can protect your family by making your home and vehicles smoke-free and only smoking outside. A smoke-free home rule can also help you quit smoking.

The EPA’s publication, "What You Can Do About Secondhand Smoke as Parents, Decision-Makers, and Building Occupants" provides additional information and tips to help protect your health at home, or outside of the home such as in restaurants, bars, workplace, etc.