What it second hand smoke?
Second hand smoke is the name for the sickening, poisonous smoke given off by burning tobacco - in cigarettes, roll-ups, pipes or cigars. Breathing in other people's tobacco smoke is called 'passive smoking'. The tobacco industry claims that smokers have a right to smoke. But non-smokers have a right to breathe clean air. The right to smoke ends where a non-smoker's right to breathe safe air starts.
Second hand smoke:
- Contains 4000 chemicals, 60 cancer-causing agents and 200 poisons
- Takes 3 hours to clear the smoke from a single cigarette from the air
- Causes wheezing, coughs, colds, earaches and asthma attacks
- Makes eyes red, itchy stinging and watery
- Fills the air with some of the same poisons as those found around toxic waste dumps
- Makes clothes and hair stink and ruins the smell and taste of food
- Kills hundreds of people from lung cancer in the UK every year
- Kills hundreds of people from heart and circulation problems every year
- Triples the risk of cot death and causes serious lung infections in babies and children
Tips to make your air smokefree
If someone is smoking near you
Asking someone who is smoking near you not to smoke is not easy. Let smokers know that you are not objecting to the fact that they smoke but you are asking them not to smoke near you. Be firm but polite. Putdowns don't help! How you say it is as important as what you say.
When to ask someone not to smoke
At home, talk to the smoker when it feels right. In a public place it's not so easy as you have to decide if it is OK to speak to a smoker. It may be safer to move away from the smoke if the person seems angry or upset. If you are in a no-smoking area then ask for help from someone in authority.
What to say
Take an example. You are out at a restaurant with friends. Your friend's partner takes out her cigarettes and lighter to light up next to you. What can you say?
Firstly before you say anything - relax! It will help you to get the result you want.
Tell the person that you understand their wish to smoke. You could start with, "(Name), I am sure you enjoy a cigarette after a meal, but…"
Then you tell her your side. Smokers sometimes don't realise that smoking is bad for others. So try and explain, "… I need to tell you that smoking is very bad for my chest."
Suggest a solution. Try saying "I'd be ever so grateful if you didn't smoke at the table. Perhaps you could smoke outside?"
Turn a possible refusal into a positive! End with … "Thanks ever so much. Otherwise I need to go and sit somewhere else."
Don't forget - if the smoker puts out the cigarette or goes outside, always thank the person.
In public places
Where smoking is still permitted
- Always ask for a smoke-free policy even when you know they don't have one!
- Politely ask any smoker near to you not to smoke. Explain why. Tell the manager if your visit has been spoiled by second hand smoke.
- Leave a note or speak to the person in charge asking for smokefree air. Tell them you would visit more often if the air was smokefree.
- If necessary move away from the smoke.
Ideas of what to say:
"Could I ask if you wouldn't mind not smoking as the smoke tends to make me sick (or affects my allergies, contact lenses, throat, asthma)."
Where smoking is not permitted
- Ask a person with authority to enforce the smoke-free policy.
- Tell the smoker you chose to be away from smoke and point to the sign.
Ideas of what to say:
"You might not realise it but this is a no-smoking area and smoke is not permitted here. You can smoke on the outside patio."
Smokefree everywhere
If you want more places to be smokefree you need to get active and get your friends organised
- Always ask for smokefree places and complain if they aren't there.
- Speak to managers when public places are smoky.
- Offer managers no-smoking stickers or posters or tell them where they can get them.
- Write letters to managers telling them the benefits of being completely smoke-free.
Ideas of what to say:
Tell them in your own words that no-smoking sections and ventilation systems don't work. They don't stop second hand smoke just as you can't contain chlorine in one section of a swimming pool. Tell them that being smoke-free would be good for business and good for health and you and your friends would use it more often.
- Lobby your local councillors and your MP to bring in the laws to protect non-smokers as soon as possible. Send a personal letter, fax, e-mail or text.
- A short letter about your feelings about second hand smoke to a local newspaper has real impact. It is read by thousands of readers, people in power and potential supporters.
- Public opinion surveys can help if you publicise your findings.
In the home
You spend a lot of time at home so it's important to make it smokefree
- Tell smokers you live with that breathing smoky air is bad for you. Use this information or look on the Internet about second hand smoke to give to the smoker. Ask the person politely not to smoke.
- Support the smoker who wants to stop. Suggest help from the doctor or a smokers' helpline. But be firm about your right to smoke-free air.
- Ask smokers to smoke outside. Offer to set up a smoking area somewhere pleasant outside the house with a seat and ashtray.
- Put no-smoking signs inside the front door telling visitors that they cannot smoke.
- Make your own 'No smoking' posters and signs to put up at the door, in the kitchen or living room.
- Ask parents not to smoke to protect young children.
- If grandparents or other adults smoke, ask them not to smoke in the house.
- If all else fails, make your room a smoke-free zone and escape there to avoid second hand smoke.
Ideas of what to say:
"(Name), I know it's hard for you to stop smoking but I know you care about my health. Do you think you would be able to smoke outside from now on? I don't want to hurt your feelings but this is really important to me."
or
"(Name) when you light up, I can go out. But my little sister is breathing your smoke and it is really bad for her lungs. She can't ask you to smoke outside, but I will. If you must smoke, please don't do it around the younger ones."
Smokefree cars
Tobacco smoke levels can be extra harmful inside a car.
- Ask people not to smoke in the car. Opening a window is not enough.
- Suggest 'smoke stops' for smokers.
- Speak up to protect children in the car.
- Put a no-smoking sign in the car and ask if you can remove the lighter and ashtrays.
- In other people's cars ask for smoke-free air for you
- Carry a note from the doctor explaining that you need to breathe clean air
Ideas of what to say:
"Breathing in tobacco smoke in small space like a car is really bad for my health/asthma/cough. Can I please ask you not to smoke when we are in the car? You could have a smoke when we stop for breaks. Thanks."
In other people's homes
It's harder to ask other people not to smoke.
- Politely ask the smoker not to smoke because smoky air makes your eyes sting, your lungs to cough or it makes your asthma worse.
- Avoid smoke by going to another room or outside.
- Show them a note from your doctor asking for smoke-free air.
Ideas of what to say:
"Excuse me, but cigarette smoke is really bad for my (asthma, allergies, lungs) so could you please not smoke at the moment. I'd really appreciate it. Thank you."
No smoking signs and posters for your house, car or room.
Make your own signs. Here are some suggestions for captions:
- Smokefree zone
- Car and home - smoke-free zone
- Smokers welcome - Smoking is NOT
- No Smoking, Please do not smoke
- Don't even think of smoking here
- Welcome to my smoke-free home
- You are entering a smoke-free area
- Extinguish all cigarettes
- We say no to second hand smoke
- No smoking - Lungs at work
- Thank you for not smoking
- Yes I do mind if you smoke
- If you want to smoke, go outside
- Second hand smoke damages my health
- You smoke I choke
- Don't pollute my air
- I love no smoking (make this with a heart and a no smoking sign)
- Respect my right to breathe smoke free air
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