Reducing Secondhand Smoke on Children - Research Paper Example

Reducing Secondhand Smoke on Children of the Reducing Secondhand Smoke on Children Introduction Second hand smoke pertainsto a mixture of smoke that emanates from a cigarette and the smoke that is breathed out by a smoker. Whenever the children are in the vicinity of someone who is smoking, they are poised to breathe in secondhand smoke. There is no denying the fact that secondhand smoke is really dangerous for children who breathe it in. The secondhand smoke is known to contain almost 7,000 chemicals which are known to harm the health of children and other people who breathe it in (Harutyunyan, Movsisyan, Petrosyan, Petrosyan, & Stillman, 2013).

Quitting and Abstaining from Smoking at Home It is a known fact that children get exposed to secondhand smoke, most of all at home. So the one sure shot and authentic way of curtailing second hand smoke in the case of children is to convince the adults and guardians to quit smoking. Once the parents and guardians quit smoking it automatically removes the source of secondhand smoke at home and in the family car where the children are most vulnerable of catching on secondhand smoke and fumes (Harutyunyan et al., 2013). If this is not possible than the second best option is to request the family members and people in general not to smoke at home and in the family car (Harutyunyan et al., 2013). Besides the parents need to make it a point to assure that the people who take care of children like babysitters and nannies do not smoke around children.

Staying Away from Places Abounding in Secondhand Smoke The others possible place where children could get exposed to secondhand smoke are the places, including the public places where smoking is allowed (Gordon, Friel, & McGranachan, 2012). Any child visiting such a place, including say a public space is poised to get exposed to secondhand smoke. So parents and guardians should look to it that they do not visit such places with their children where smoking is allowed. Keeping children away from public places where smoking is allowed is one salient way of cutting the secondhand smoke on children (Stosic, Milutinovic, Lazarevic, Blagojevic, & Tadic, 2012).

This includes choosing such restaurants and recreational places which are smoke free or where smoking is not allowed (Stoic et al., 2012). This also tends to include such indoor places where smoking is allowed and where children are more likely to get exposed to secondhand smoking. It is a known fact that secondhand smoke causes greater harm when it is inhaled at such places which are closed or are not well ventilated. The parents and guardians do need to understand the fact that secondhand smoke is utterly hazardous and could wreck havoc on the health and well being of children.

Educating Children The other pragmatic way of reducing second hand smoke on children is to convince children as to how secondhand smoke is a health hazard and why the need to stay away from it (Newton 21). Children should be educated about the negative health impact of secondhand smoke and must be taught and indoctrinated that they should do their best to stay away from the places that are prone to secondhand smoke.Conclusion Quitting smoking, not smoking at home and in the family car, staying off public places that are vulnerable to smoking and educating children are some salient ways of reducing secondhand smoke on children.

ReferencesGordon, J., Friel, B., & McGranachan, M. (2012). Professional Training to Reduce Children’s Exposure to Secondhand Smoke in the Home: Evidence-Based Considerations on Targeting and Content. Perspectives in Public Health, 132(3), 135-156. Harutyunyan, A., Movsisyan, N., Petrosyan, V., Petrosyan, D., & Stillman, F. (2013). Reducing Children’s Exposure to Secondhand Smoke at Home: A Randomized Trial. Pediatrics, 132(6), 1071-1080. Newton, D.E. (2010). Substance Abuse: A Reference Handbook.

Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio. Stoic, L., Milutinovic, S., Lazarevic, K., Blagojevic, L., & Tadic, L. (2012). Household Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Respiratory Diseases among Children in Nis (Serbia). Central European Journal of Public Health, 20(1), 29-37.