How To Protect Your Kids From Secondhand Smoke

If you, or someone in your family, smokes and you have children, then it is important to ensure that they are not the recipients of secondhand cigarette smoke, which is classified as a known human (Group A) carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Secondhand smoke is scientifically correlated with a range of illnesses from Asthma to Cancer to heart disease, and it is even more damaging to children whose lungs and immune systems are still developing. Given the statistics, the less exposure your kids have, the better.

Stop smoking. If you or anyone else in your home smokes, the most effective way to prevent harm to the kids is to quit persuade the resident smoker to quit as soon as possible. It is a hard habit to break but look at just some of the benefits you get for stopping:

• Healthier kids, less respiratory illness (and fewer medical bills) for you and for them,
  
• Clean home environment, no yellowing paintwork, no odors.
  
• Cleaner, healthier teeth & gums, which can save you from having work done at the dentist.
  
• Cleaner upholstery, curtains, and Arrange Your Bedroom Mirrors.
  
• No chance of household fire from a cigarette or of cigarette burns.
  

Smoke outdoors. Make it a rule to never smoke inside the home, even in the middle of winter. Indoor smoke builds up and anyone in proximity to that smoke is a target of the carcinogenic chemicals and respiratory irritants cigarette smoke contains. The chemical particles also fall onto the household furniture, upholstery and walls, and continue to emit potentially damaging chemicals long after the cigarette is extinguished, not to mention the stale odor of tobacco smoke. But, standing on your driveway and lighting up will be bad for people who pass by, and smoke in the yard can easily go over walls and fences. However, smoking outdoors is always the best choice. because the smoke will naturally disappear much faster outdoors than indoors. smoking in your home is similar to smoking in a car with the windows rolled up. except that the effects are more instant in a car rather than more long term in a home.

Never smoke in the car. It is never okay to smoke in a car when you have kids, even when your kids are not in the car with you, because the smoke residue lingers and off-gases whenever the kids are in the car. Rolling down a window helps some, but can blow the smoke directly into your kids' faces.

Ask Avoid Offending Uninvited Guests to light up outdoors. It is your home and you have a right to a smoke-free environment. Be polite but firm and let the guests know that because of the kids, there is a strict "no indoor smoking" policy in place.

Keep the kids away from public places where smoking is concentrated. If you do not live in an area with laws banning smoking in restaurants, find the restaurants that voluntarily ban smoking when you take your kids out to eat. This also applies to concerts, shows, entertainment places, and anywhere that smokers feel comfortable lighting up. Be aware that even where smoking is banned indoors, many places still permit smoking on outdoor patios. Keep the kids away from tables of smokers or take them indoors.

Ask Choose a Good Babysitter not to 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.

Make alternative arrangements. If you work or follow hobbies in a place that permits smoking, and you need to take your child there for any amount of time, make sure that your child is not exposed to the smoke of others in this environment. If you cannot manage this, make alternative arrangements.

• Air fresheners only mask the scent of cigarette smoke - they do not remove it. Save Money on Hepa Filters suck up the odor, but all the harmful chemicals will still be lingering, undetectable but still harmful.
  
• Remember what secondhand smoke exposes children to. Would you allow your children to consume or inhale arsenic, lead, mercury, DDT, acetone, ammonia, formaldehyde, cyanide, or carbon monoxide? These are the chemicals found in secondhand 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. Secondhand smoke causes 3,400 cases of lung cancer each year and 22,000 to 70,000 heart disease in adult non-smokers in the US each year (American Lung Association).
  
• If you slipped and smoked in your car or indoors, vacuum thoroughly and clean out the car or the room by wiping down furniture, car upholstery, etc. and leave the windows wide open to let in fresh air. Empty all Make an Aluminum Can Ashtray and put the garbage bag outside. The amount of extra cleaning effort might help to convince you that it is just easier not to smoke in the first place.
  
• Change the air filter in your car if you smoke in it. They will contain the smoke smell and make it worse when you turn on your heat or A/C.
  

• The surgeon general states that there is NO safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Short exposures to second hand smoke can cause blood platelets to become stickier, damage the lining of blood vessels, decrease coronary flow velocity reserves, and reduce heart rate variability, potentially increasing the risk of heart attack (American Lung Association).
  
• Kids exposed to cigarette smoke can get severe bronchial and other respiratory illnesses, and have an increased exposure to carcinogens, which can trigger cancer. Young bodies are far more vulnerable to cell mutation triggered by secondhand smoke as they are growing. But, that does not make adults completely immune to secondhand smoke either.
  
• Cigarette smoke contains around 4000 chemicals, a number of which are known carcinogens.
  

What Does It Take To Make a Change?

You want to lose weight, stop smoking , start an exercise program or make another positive lifestyle change. But you keep putting it off.... because you're not motivated right now.

Motivation is an important part of making a lasting lifestyle change. You can't buy motivation at the grocery store, but you can create it. Think of it as two part process. First, increase your internal motivation, your personal drive to succeed. Second, boost your external motivation by using outside support and inspiration.

Helpincrease your motivation:

Examine how you think about the change. Do you believe that "exercise" means a pain- filled 60 minutes at gym? Challenge those beliefs. For example, remind your self any physical activity in beneficial whether it's a neighborhood walk, an hour gardening, an afternoon of gold or a night dancing.

Focus on the positive. Make a list of all the possible positive outcomes of making the change. For example, instead of focusing on your weight, notice if your clothes fit better, you fell more energetic or your doctor says you've reduced your risk of diabetes. If you stop smoking, remind your self that your children will no longer be exposed to second hand smoke, you'll save money and you'll reduce your risk numerous health problems.

Make it personal. Choose an approach that works for your personality. For example, if you hate to jog but love to dance, create an exercise plan that includes dance classes or aerobic dance DVDs. If counting calories doesn't appeal to you, focus on choosing appropriate foods and portion sizes.

Set realistic goals. As the Chinese proverbs say" the journey of a thousand miles begins with one steps". Pick one achievable action that takes you towards your goal. If you want to lose weight, maybe you can begin skeeping the cookie at break time today. If you aren't ready to quit smoking, perhaps you could stop smoking in your car. Review recommit to your goals daily or weekly.

Step up your external motivation:

Develop a support system. Yes, you are responsible for changing. But as with any important project, don't you want a strong team working with you? So , enlist support: a co-worker, friend, significant other or health care provider. Having others to encourage you can help you stay inspired.

Reward yourself with something that matters to you each time you reach your goal. It might be anything from having a pedicure after a good week's workout to buying yourself a new golfs clubs after you've stopped a smoking for a month.

One final point. You'll probably have days when your best in tensions go out the window. Don't feel guilty or blame your self if that happens. Recognized it as part of making a change, and use the strategies above to return to your desired healthy behaviors.