Smoking continues to decline in terms of social acceptance, but there are still many adults who smoke around children. Whether in the car, at home or elsewhere, children are extremely vulnerable to the ill effects of secondhand smoke. 

Exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), respiratory illness, asthma, middle ear infections and tooth decay. Yet, sadly, almost 60 percent of U.S. children 3 to 11 years old are exposed to secondhand smoke. In addition, the more secondhand smoke a child is exposed to, the more likely the child will become a smoker as an adolescent or an adult.

No amount of secondhand smoke is safe for children. If you smoke, speak with your doctor or dentist about the best way for you to quit. And if you do slip and want to smoke, go outside, away from your children’s lungs.

For more information on how to quit smoking today, visit Idaho’s Quitnet. It’s important for your health and the health of your children.