Smokeless Homes Smokeless Homes Goal Reduce the exposure

Smokeless Homes

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

Why focus on children in the home? • Involuntary exposure • Children are still developing Airways are smaller Lungs are still developing • Children breathe 2 to 3 times faster and take in more air • Home is the most frequent place of exposure Source: American Lung Association

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 • Asthma More severe symptoms New cases in children • Bronchitis and Pneumonia 150, 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: American Lung Association

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 Source: Philadelphia Allies Against Asthma

Asthma Facts by Race 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 Source: American Lung Association

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 Source: American Lung Association

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 Do the right thing! Take the cigarette smoke outside. “I, _______, pledge to protect my family from the health risks of cigarette smoke by making my home and car smokefree. ”

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

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 Source: American Cancer Society

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This presentation has been brought to you by: Contact: Smokeless Homes Program (215) 731 -6150