Top tips on making the air you breath smoke free
Do you hate it when people smoke around you? Are you unsure about what to say to try and get people to stop smoking when you’re near?
Take a look at our Top Tips to make sure that the air you breathe is nice, clean and smoke free…
Firstly, what is second hand smoke?
Breathing in other people’s smoke is called passive, involuntary or second hand smoking. The non-smoker breathes ‘side stream’ smoke from the burning tip of the cigarette and ‘main stream’ smoke that has been inhaled and then exhaled by the smoker.
Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals – and 60 are actually known to cause cancer!
If you are in a room where somebody is smoking, the smoke does not just go away as soon as the smoker stubs out the cigarette, the deadly smoke hangs around in the air for 3 hours after – even with the windows open!
The Effects of Second Hand Smoke
Children and young people like you are more sensitive to second hand smoke than adults, as your bodies are young and still developing.
If you are exposed to smoky atmospheres e.g. in your home or in the car, you are:
- Twice as likely to have asthma attacks and chest infections.
- You have an increased risk of breathing problems.
- Young children are more likely to get taken to hospital, as 50 children under 5 are admitted to hospital EVERY DAY because of the effects of passive smoking.
- You’re more likely to get coughs and colds.
- You’ve got an increased risk of meningitis.
- There’s more chance of getting ear infections, which can lead to partial deafness.
- As a result, you’ll probably have more time off school with illnesses, which can have an impact on your education.
- You are more likely to smoke, as children brought up in households without smoking restrictions are three times more likely to smoke.
Top Tips on Making Your Home Smoke Free
You spend most of your time at home, so it’s important to make it smoke free.
- Tell anyone that smokes in your house that breathing in smoky air is bad for you (and maybe get them to read this article!)
- Be supportive to people who want to quit – as it’s a really hard thing to do! If they do want to quit, get them to have a look at the Parent/Teacher Zone – to find out where they can go for help and support.
- Ask smokers in your home (as well as visitors) very politely to smoke outside – you could maybe offer to set up a nice comfy area for them to go, with a chair and an ashtray! Maybe say something like “(name), I know it’s hard for you to stop smoking but I know you care about my health. Do you think you would be able to smoke outside from now on? I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but this is really important to me”.
- Make some no smoking signs to put around the house and by the front door – so visitors know that your home is smoke free.
- If your parents won’t make your whole house smoke free, then ask them if they could only smoke in one room of the house.
- Try and make sure that your bedroom is smoke free – and escape there to avoid the smoky air. Why not put a no smoking poster on your bedroom door as well.
- Don’t forget the car! Ask people not to smoke in the car – maybe you could suggest having ‘smoke stops’ if people need a cigarette on a long journey.
