Tobacco Use Prevention

Smoke-Free Places

“Many kids don’t smoke. So why are smoke-free places so important?”

Smoke-free places are important because smoking is dangerous for both smokers and the people around them.

One-half of all children in Canada live with at least one smoker. As a result, they end up smoking – whether they want to or not – because they regularly breathe smoke from burning cigarettes and exhaled smoke. This “second-hand smoke” contains hundreds of dangerous chemicals, including over 50 hazardous, toxic and cancer-causing agents.

Here is a list of some of the health problems caused by second-hand smoke:

• Children, especially babies, who live with smokers have more colds, chest infections and ear infections.
• Children, especially babies, who live with smokers are twice as likely to need to be in hospital because of bronchitis and pneumonia.
• Children who have asthma or allergies have more health problems when they live with smokers.
• Second-hand smoke also affects babies before they are born. Smokers have a higher chance of having miscarriages, stillbirths, premature babies and smaller babies at birth.

According to the Breathing Space Smoke-free Homes campaign, second-hand smoke is
responsible for:

• 7% of all ear infections
• 20% of all tonsillectomies
• 14% of all tube insertions in ears
• 13% of physician visits for coughs
• 11% of all asthma cases

So it’s up to you and me! All our children need to know that smoking costs. Our kids need to understand that smoking is a luxury no one can afford.

Adapted from Heart and Stroke Foundation

June 29, 2006

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