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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


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)


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?


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


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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