Info for Parents
Second Hand Smoke – The Facts
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 are more sensitive to second hand smoke than adults, as their bodies are young and still developing.
Babies and children in the UK exposed to a smoky atmosphere are:
- Twice as likely to have asthma attacks and chest infections.
- Young children have a 72% increased risk of respiratory illnesses.
- More likely to need hospital care in their first year of life for bronchitis and pneumonia.
- 50 children under 5 are admitted to hospital EVERY DAY because of the effects of passive smoking.
- Second hand smoke may affect a child’s mental development.
- More likely to get more coughs, colds and wheezes.
- Much higher risk of cot death than the children of non-smokers.
- Increased risk of meningitis.
- More chance (20-40%) of getting ear infections and ‘glue ear’, which can lead to partial deafness.
As a result, children from smoking households have more time off school with illnesses, damaging their education.
Children brought up in households without smoking restrictions are three times more likely to smoke themselves.
