Even when you don’t smoke or vape yourself, being around others who are smoking/vaping can be harmful to your health. Secondhand smoke/vapor occurs when you breathe in someone else’s smoke/vapor. This often occurs in public places, cars, or homes.
Secondhand smoke contains many harmful chemicals, including:
- Carbon monoxide – a poisonous gas that makes it hard for blood to carry oxygen
- Formaldehyde – a chemical used to preserve dead things
- Ammonia – also found in some cleaning products
- Benzene – a chemical found in gasoline
Smoking or vaping around children can be especially dangerous to their health, as their brains and lungs are still developing. The resources below can help you limit your child’s exposure to secondhand smoke.
Breathe Resources about Second Hand Smoke/Vapor
This quick video reviews some of the harmful effects of secondhand smoke/vapor and how to protect your kids.
This Breathe handout goes over some of the dangers that can come from secondhand smoke/vapor and why it is important to keep smoke/vapor away from kids.
Children are affected by those that smoke/vape around them. This handout outlines some of things that can happen when children are exposed to tobacco products at a young age.
Even if you do not smoke/vape in your home or car, there are many other ways the kids in your life could still be exposed to secondhand smoke. This handout talks about other areas outside of the home where exposure may happen.
This worksheet gives information about how secondhand smoke can cause negative health effects in children and babies. It can also help you take steps towards a smoke free car and home.
Another one of Breathe’s worksheets gives you information about secondhand smoke and how it can effect a baby that is growing and developing during pregnancy.
Talking to others about not smoking/vaping around your family can be difficult conversations, but they are important. This worksheet gives you tips on how to talk to people who smoke around you and your children.
Pregnancy and Secondhand Smoke/Vapor
Secondhand smoke/vapor also affects the growing baby when someone is pregnant. Harmful chemicals from secondhand smoke can go right to the developing baby and can cause serious complications.
If you would like to learn more about tobacco use and pregnancy, check out our pregnancy page.
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