Secondhand Smoke or Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS)

Exposure to ETS decreases lung efficiency and impairs lung function in children of all ages. It increases both the frequency and severity of childhood asthma. It can also aggravate sinusitis, rhinitis, cystic fibrosis, and chronic respiratory problems such as cough and postnasal drip. It also increases the number of children’s colds and sore throats.

Approximately 26% of adults in the US currently smoke, and 50 to 67% of children under 5 years of age live in homes with at least one adult smoker.

ETS causes more than 3,000 nonsmokers to die of lung cancer each year.

DO NOT ALLOW SMOKING IN YOUR CAR.

BE CERTAIN THAT YOUR CHILDREN’S SCHOOLS AND DAYCARE FACILITIES ARE SMOKE FREE.

ASK VISITORS AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO SMOKE OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOME.

Acknowledgement is made to the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology.
Jane A. Balavage, RDH, BS. Jane serves as PDHA’s liaison to ADHA’s ASK.ADVISE. REFER initiative for smoking cessation.