Your Home and Car

Benefits of Smoke-Free Homes and Cars

  • Protect your family, including pets, from secondhand smoke.
  • Reduce fire risk.
  • Maintain your property’s value and reduce cleaning costs.

What’s the problem with smoking in your home and car?

    Resources
  • There is no safe level of secondhand smoke.
    • Children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to the health risks associated with secondhand smoke.1
    • 2 out of 5 children are exposed to secondhand smoke. Most children are exposed in the home.2
    • Children exposed to tobacco smoke are at risk for asthma, lung problems, earaches, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).1
    • Adults are at risk for heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer.2
  • Thirdhand smoke is the residue left behind from cigarette smoke and cannot be removed through normal cleaning methods.
    • It contains 250 chemicals and sticks to dust, carpets, upholstery, walls, hair, clothes, pets’ fur, and feathers. The toxic chemicals left behind can re-emit and off gas back into the air. It cannot be removed through routine cleaning methods and can remain months after smoking has stopped.3,4
  • Most fire deaths at home are caused by cigarettes. Smoke-free buildings reduce the risk, costs, and liability associated with fires.5

What can you do?

  • Talk to your family about smoke-free homes and cars.
  • Don’t allow smoking or vaping in your home or car.
  • To protect your family from thirdhand smoke, never smoke inside your home or car, even when they are not present.
  • Sign a pledge to maintain a smoke and vapefree home. Have your family do the same.
  • If visitors or someone in the home smokes, designate an area outdoors where they can smoke. Ideally, people should not smoke or vape within 25 feet from your home.
  • Remove ashtrays from your home.
  • Use the resources below to learn more and to educate your family about smoke-free homes and cars.

Resources

References