Secondhand Smoke

Secondhand smoke is breathing someone else's smoke. It is also called passive smoking.

Those most at risk are:

• Children
• Preganant women
• Healthy adults in workplaces with unrestricted smoking

What are the effects of passive smoking?

• Lung cancer
• Asthma & other respiratory conditions
• Eye irritation
• Headache
• Cough, Sore throat
• Dizziness, nausea

What's the risk to children?

• Increases the risk of lower respiratory tract infections - bronchitis, pneumonia and bronchiolitis
• Increases the severity of asthma & is a risk factor for new cases
• Low birth weight & cot death
• Increased risk of meningitis
• More likely to get coughs, colds and wheezes

It has been estimated that more than 17'000 children under the age of five are admitted to hospital every year because of the effects of passive smoking. That is five children under the age of five every day in London.

You can protect babies and children by keeping their playing, sleeping and eating environment smoke free.

• Always smoke outside well away from children
• When out and about find non-smoking areas.