Dangers of second-hand smoke to your children

With cigarettes legally back on the market, after being banned at the start of the lockdown, people are back to smoking full on. But if you smoke in front of your child, here is a reality check: When you smoke, you expose your children arsenic, lead, mercury, DDT, acetone, ammonia, formaldehyde, cyanide, or carbon monoxide. These chemicals are only some of the additives used in the production of cigarettes and they are all present in second-hand smoke. They may not be visible, but they are there. When inhaled even in small amounts on a regular basis, 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 completely wrong. Second-hand smoke is considered to be more dangerous, therefore it is important to ensure that you do not expose your children to the second-hand cigarette smoke. Besides cigarette smoke containing around 4 000 chemicals, of which a number of them are known to cause cancer, 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 hard but it is not impossible to quit smoking. The benefits far outweigh the risks. Your medical bill will significantly decrease because there will be no one with respiratory illnesses in the family. The Corona virus 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 is a target of 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 done smoking, giving off toxic chemical fumes. It is never okay to smoke in a car with children, and 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 of the 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 are asking 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 still harmful to your children.