On long trips, plan rest stops for your cigarette break.
Use your ashtrays for other things, such as holding mints or change for parking.
Make it a rule: no smoking in your car.
A word of caution…
Air filters and purifiers do not clean the air of second-hand smoke. Smoke from the burning end of a cigarette contains tar. Tar sticks to food, clothing, skin and furniture. The only way to remove smoke from indoor air is to remove the source.
In your home…
Think of smoking as something you do by yourself.
Find a "family-safe" place to smoke – outside your front or back door, on the balcony, deck or in the garage.
Throw out all ashtrays except one, and clean it out after each use (cigarette butts are poisonous to children and pets).
Make sure that cigarettes are completely out when you are finished smoking. Careless smoking is the leading cause of death in house fires.
When visitors come…
Practice ways you can ask visitors not to smoke inside your home. Make no exceptions; be polite but be firm.
Consider a common activity outside:
"Let’s sit outside while you have a smoke. We’ve decided to make our home smoke-free."
"Why don’t we go for a walk outside while you smoke? I could use a little exercise after that meal!!"
Be sure to acknowledge the efforts of your friends and relatives in helping you keep your home smoke-free.
Children learn by watching you…
You can help in your children’s decision to smoke or not. Keep the lines of communication open. Be honest and provide them with the facts so they can make an informed decision. Be patient and take the time to listen. Children who are confident will be less likely to let their friends influence their decisions around smoking. In their subtle ways, children value your opinion and look to you for direction. Providing a smoke-free home shows them the way!
For more information, call us at (705) 474-1400 or visit our web site: www.nbdhu.on.ca
Adapted from the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit and Grey Bruce Health Unit.
