Oxfordshire Baby & Parenting Guide | Page 47

43 Did you know that if you smoke around your children, they can inhale the equivalent of 150 cigarettes per year? Or, if you smoke or are exposed to second-hand smoke whilst pregnant, the harmful chemicals will be passed on to the unborn child? This makes for serious reading but it’s important to know that most second-hand smoke is invisible and odourless, so even though you can’t see or smell it, it is still there. When you smoke inside your home or car, everyone else in there is also inhaling your harmful secondhand smoke. Even your pets! Second-hand smoke is your family’s invisible enemy. So before you next light up, take a moment to think: who is smoking with you? If you would like help making your home smoke-free or stopping smoking please call 0300 123 1044 and they will direct you to your local service. Second-hand smoke Surprised? Second-hand smoke contains 4000 toxic chemicals which are dust-like particles too small for the eye to see. These linger in the air, quickly spreading to other rooms in the house even if a door or window is open. They stick to clothes, walls, hair, carpets etc. People who breathe in secondhand smoke are at risk from the same diseases as smokers. Babies and children are more sensitive to this risk because their lungs are not fully developed, plus they breathe faster and take in more toxins than adults. Unfortunately Z\