73 killed each year
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wah ..... 2nd hand smoke really deadly ....
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in NSW alone ar, hmmmm
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Why should you worry about secondhand smoke?
Secondhand Smoke causes about 3,000 deaths each year from lung cancer in people who don´t smoke.
Secondhand Smoke causes irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat.
Secondhand Smoke can also irritate the lungs, leading to coughing, excessive phlegm and chest discomfort.
Secondhand Smoke has been linked with the onset of chest pain may affect the heart, according to some studies.
Secondhand Smoke especially hurts Children!
Children who breathe Secondhand Smoke are more likely to suffer from pneumonia, bronchitis, and other lung diseases.
Children who breathe Secondhand Smoke have more inner infections
Children who breathe Secondhand Smoke are more likely to develop asthma
Children who have asthma and who breathe Secondhand Smoke have more asthma attacks
There are an estimated 150,000 to 300,000 case every year of infections, such as bronchitis and pneumonia in infants and children under 18 months of age who breathe Secondhand Smoke. These result in 7,500 to 15,000 hospitalizations. -
Who is at greatest risk of being harmed by second-hand smoke?
Although any person who spends a lot of time around those who smoke has an increased chance of developing a smoking-related illness, certain people are extremely susceptible to the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. These include:
· Service industry workers, such as bartenders and restaurant servers. People who work in an environment where they are constantly exposed to smokers may absorb carcinogens and other harmful substances from second-hand tobacco smoke on a regular basis. This puts them at greater risk of developing respiratory infections and other illnesses.
· Pregnant women. Second hand-smoke harms not only the mother-to-be, but her unborn child as well. It increases both her and her baby's risk of developing lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, allergies, asthma and other health problems.
· Infants and children. Because young children can’t choose to leave a smoke-filled environment, this constant exposure makes them especially vulnerable to the health risks of second-hand smoke. Infants and children who are regularly exposed to second-hand smoke have an increased chance of developing the following conditions:
o Frequent colds
o Asthma
o Chronic coughs
o Ear infections
o High blood pressure
o Learning and behavior problems later in childhood
In addition, among infants up to 18 months of age, second-hand smoke is associated with as many as 300,000 cases of bronchitis and pneumonia each year. -
What can I do to avoid second-hand smoke?
The following suggestions may be helpful in reducing, or even eliminating, your and your familyÂ’s exposure to second-hand smoke:
- Whenever possible, ask visitors to your home to smoke outside.
- Open windows and use fans to ventilate rooms.
- Don't keep ashtrays in your home.
- Tell babysitters and other caregivers not smoke around your children, even if it is in their own home.
- If you are visiting a smokerÂ’s home with your children, try to socialize outside whenever possible.
- If smoking is allowed where you work, talk to your employer about modifying the company's smoking policy.
- Ask to work near other nonsmokers or as far away from smokers as possible.
- Use a fan and open windows to ventilate your workspace.
- When staying in a hotel, ask for a non-smoking room.
- Ask to be seated in the non-smoking sections of restaurants and suggest to the managers that they make the restaurants smoke-free.
- Stay informed about any changes in federal, state and local smoking laws and become involved in strengthening those laws.