Smokefree places can help protect you and your family from the dangers of second-hand smoke

We now know that breathing in smoke from other people’s cigarettes can cause cancer. Second-hand smoke kills thousands of people in the UK every year.

Cigarette smoke is so dangerous because it contains many different poisons including cancer-causing chemicals. Smokefree places prevent everyone from being exposed to these dangerous poisons.

Going smokefree in public

Over the next year all of the UK is going smokefree! The smoking ban will help clear the air in our public places.

Many countries and cities all around the world have now banned smoking in enclosed public spaces. In these countries people can no longer smoke inside offices, shops, pubs or restaurants. Following in their footsteps...

• Scotland went smokefree in March 2006
• Wales is going smokefree on 2nd April 2007
• Northern Ireland is going smokefree on 30th April 2007
• England is going smokefree on 1st July 2007.

Smokefree laws reduce our exposure to second-hand smoke. They are also popular with smokers as they help them to quit.

Going smokefree at home

Some people are also exposed to smoke at home. Second-hand smoke is particularly dangerous for children. It increases their risk of cot death, breathing problems such as asthma, ear and chest infections.

Over 40% of children in the UK live in a home where someone smokes. These children suffer from breathing in other people’s smoke. They are also more likely to take up smoking themselves when they grow up.

Talk to the smokers amongst your friends and family, and ask them to help protect you and your children. In particular try to:

• keep your home smokefree
• ban smoking in the car.

More information

Cancer Research UK produces a lot of information about second-hand smoke including:

• details of the chemicals in second-hand smoke
• more about smokefree legislation.

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