Smokeless Homes

Smokeless HomesGoal

• Reduce the exposure to cigarette smoke in the homes of children with asthma

Source: American Lung Association

Why focus on children in the home?

• Involuntary exposure• Children are still developing

Airways are smallerLungs are still developing

• Children breathe 2 to 3 times faster and take in more air

• Home is the most frequent place of exposure

What is secondhand smoke?

What is secondhand smoke?

• Breathing smoke from someone else’s cigarette or tobacco product

Also known as:• Environmental tobacco

smoke (ETS)• Tobacco smoke pollution

(TSP)• Passive or Involuntary

smoking

Where is cigarette smoke?

Where is cigarette smoke?

• In the Home

Clothes

Furniture

Curtains

Carpet

• In the Car

Source: American Lung Association

Adverse child health effects from cigarette smoke

• AsthmaMore severe symptomsNew cases in children

• Bronchitis and Pneumonia150,000-300,000 cases every year

• Ear Infections• Coughing and Wheezing• SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)

Source: American Lung Association

Childhood Asthma Facts

Nationally• Leading Cause of

Missed School Days• Leading Cause of

Hospitalizations 100,000 Children Each

Year

Source: Philadelphia Allies Against Asthma

Childhood Asthma Facts

Philadelphia• Over 12% of children

have asthma. Over 40% of asthmatic

children live with a smoker

• Over 27% of smoking adults have asthma

Asthma Facts by Race

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

12.00%

14.00%

16.00%

18.00%

White Black Asian Latino Non-Latino Poor Non-poor

Percentage of Children in SEPA with Asthma by Race/Ethnicity and Poverty, 2002.

PHMC’s Community Health Data Base (CHDB) 2002 Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey

What is Asthma?

Source: American Lung Association

What is Asthma?Condition that interferes with your breathing by preventing air from flowing freely into the lungs

What Triggers Asthma?

What Triggers Asthma?

• Cigarette smoke• Dust and Dirt• Pet Hair• Roaches• Stuffed Toys• Flowers• Hair Spray • Perfume

Name Asthma Symptoms

Asthma Symptoms

• Dry cough• Shortness of breath• Chest pain and

tightness• Whistling or wheezing

sound while breathing or talking

• Fatigue / Tiredness

Source: American Lung Association

National Academy of Science studies about cigarette smoke

and asthma

• Confirmed cigarette smoke causes children’s asthma symptoms to worsen

• Children of smokers twice as likely to develop asthma than children of non-smokers

• 1/3 of pediatric cases related to cigarette smoke

How to protect children in the home

In just three steps, you can protect your family from

the dangers of cigarette smoke.

STEP 1 - Good

• Smoke only in one room

• Blow smoke out the window

• Talk with family about a smoke free home

STEP 2 - Better

• Never smoke near a child

• Never smoke in a car with a child

• Smoke only outside the home

STEP 3 - Best

• Never allow smoke in your home or car

• Never allow smoke around a child

• Quit smoking

Smokeless Homes Pledge

“I, _____________,

pledge to protect my family from the health risks of cigarette smoke by making my home and car smokefree.”

Do the right thing!Take the cigarette

smoke outside.

Benefits of a smoke-free environment for children

• Less severe asthma episodes

• Fewer visits to the hospital

• Fewer missed school days

• Decreased risk of developing asthma

Source: American Cancer Society

Health benefits of a smoke-free lifestyle

• Increased lung function

• Decreased risk of a heart attack

• Decreased risk of a stroke

• Decreased risk of getting cancer

FREE HELP QUITTING

Contact: Smokeless Homes Program(215) 731-6150

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