Dangers of second-hand smoke to your children

Many parents smoke cigarettes without thinking twice about the dangers second-hand smoke poses to your children. If you smoke near or around a child, you expose them to arsenic, lead, mercury, DDT, acetone, ammonia, formaldehyde, cyanide, and carbon monoxide. These chemicals are only some of the additives used in cigarette production, and they are all present in second-hand smoke. They may not be visible, but they are there. When inhaled, even in small amounts regularly, they can cause significant damage to a developing body. So, if you or someone in your family smokes in the company of your children and you think the smoke does nothing to them, you are entirely wrong.

Second-hand smoke is considered to be more dangerous. Cigarette smoke containing around 4 000 chemicals. Second-hand smoke is scientifically shown to contribute to a range of illnesses, including asthma and heart diseases. Second-hand smoke is even more damaging to children, whose lungs and immune systems are still developing, so the less exposure your children have, the better.

Protect your children

Here are some guidelines on how to protect your children from second-hand smoke:

Stop smoking: It may be challenging, but it is not impossible to quit smoking. The benefits of quitting far outweigh the risks. Your medical bill will significantly decrease because there will be no one with respiratory illnesses in the family. The coronavirus pandemic attacks the respiratory system, so by stopping, you are protecting yourself and your children and giving your immune system to fight off this deadly disease.

Smoke outdoors: You may be tempted to smoke inside the house because it’s cold. Resist from doing so because anyone in proximity to that smoke targets the chemicals and respiratory irritants cigarette smoke contains.

Never smoke in the car: The smoke residue lingers in the air and upholstery way after you are finished smoking, giving off toxic chemical fumes. It is never okay to smoke in a car if you have children – even when there are no children in the car with you.

Ensure that your guests do not smoke in your house or near your children: Let your guests know that because you have children, there is a strict “no indoor smoking” policy in place inside your home or anywhere near your children.

Keep children away from public places where smoking is concentrated: When you go to a restaurant, make sure you stay away from the smoking area or a place close to it. Most play areas are placed away from the smoking area.

Insist that babysitters do not smoke: This can be difficult, especially if you ask grandparents or friends to babysit, but you must be firm for the sake of your children’s health. Air fresheners only mask the scent of cigarette smoke – all the harmful chemicals might be undetectable but will still be lingering in the air and nevertheless harmful to your children.