Non–smokers and children

Breathing in other people's secondhand smoke can damage almost every organ in the human body. Breathing secondhand smoke increases a non-smoker's risk of lung cancer by 24% and heart disease by 25%.

Breathing in secondhand smoke makes the blood more sticky, meaning there is an increased risk of blood clots forming. A blood clot can block an artery and cause heart attacks, strokes, angina, or even complete heart failure.

When you go smokefree you will be protecting the health of your family and friends.

Protecting children and non–smokers from secondhand smoke

Secondhand smoke is especially dangerous for children as they are growing up and even when they are still developing in the womb:

• Cot death is twice as likely to occur in babies whose mothers smoke.
• Smoking near children is a cause of serious respiratory illnesses, such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
• Exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of children developing asthma and causes asthma attacks.
• Younger children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are much more likely to contract a serious respiratory infection that requires hospitalisation.
• There is also an increased risk of meningitis for children who are exposed to secondhand smoke.
• Babies and children exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to get coughs and colds, as well as middle ear disease, which can cause deafness.

One of the best things you can do to protect other people and children is to keep your home and car smokefree by smoking outside as smoke can linger for up to two-and-a-half-hours.

Advice for non–smokers

You have a right to protect your health and the health of your family. It is perfectly reasonable to ask people to stop smoking around you and to ask visitors to your home to smoke outside.

If you know someone who wants to quit, why not tell them about the different ways they can go smokefree and encourage them to call the NHS Smoking Helpline for more advice?