What Is Secondhand Smoke?

Secondhand smoke is the smoke exhaled from the lungs of smokers and the smoke that comes from the burning end of a cigarette, cigar or pipe. The smoke from the burning end of a cigarette has many harmful chemicals.

Secondhand smoke is also called environmental tobacco smoke (ETS); exposure to secondhand smoke is called involuntary smoking, or passive smoking.

It is not easy to avoid secondhand smoke because about one in four people smoke.
>> Secondhand Smoke Harms.

This is what you can do to protect yourself and your family from secondhand smoke:

• Don't smoke in your home.



• Ask other people not to smoke in your home, especially baby-sitters or others who may care for your children.



• Ask smokers to go outside while they smoke.



• If someone must smoke inside, limit them to rooms where windows can be opened or fans can be used to send the smoke outside.



• Help people who are trying to quit smoking.

What if you smoke?
• Never smoke around children.



• Children are especially sensitive to the dangers of secondhand smoke.



• If you smoke, try to smoke only in an open area away from your family. Many of the substances stay in the air even after the cigarette, cigar, or pipe is gone.

What can you do to protect yourself and your family outside of your home?

• Let family, friends and people you work with know that you do care if they smoke around you.



• In your car, do not smoke or allow others to smoke while the windows are rolled up.



• In restaurants and bars, ask to sit in the non–smoking area.



• Make sure your child's day–care, school and after–school programs are smoke-free.
  
  
• Ask your employer to make sure you do not have to breathe other people's smoke at work.