Secondhand smoke hurts children

Posted: 10/31/2017

Even if you don’t smoke, breathing in smoke from cigarettes and cigars around you can be deadly. This is called secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is especially dangerous for babies and children. They can get more ear infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, coughs and colds and asthma attacks.

Secondhand smoke can even cause death in babies. 

Protect your children from the dangers of secondhand smoke with some of these tips:

• Don’t let anyone smoke anywhere in or near your home or car, even if the windows are open.
• Make sure your children’s day care and schools are tobacco-free. Choose a babysitter who doesn’t smoke. 
• Look for restaurants that don’t allow smoking. “No-smoking sections” don’t protect you and your family from secondhand smoke. 
• If you smoke, quit today. 

If you or someone in your family needs help quitting smoking, contact Parkland’s Smoking Cessation Clinic at 214-590-5691 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.