Secondhand Smoke: Protecting Your Family at Home

Secondhand Smoke in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Secondhand smoke is the smoke from burning tobacco products and the smoke breathed out by someone who is smoking. According to the CDC, there is no safe level of exposure — even brief exposure can be harmful. In Michigan, long, cold winters mean families spend more time indoors, so making your home and car smoke-free is one of the most powerful things you can do to protect the people you love, especially children.

Why it’s dangerous

In adults who don’t smoke, secondhand smoke causes:

• Heart disease and stroke
• Lung cancer
• Worse asthma and other breathing problems

In children, who are especially vulnerable, it causes:

• More frequent and severe asthma attacks
• Ear infections
• Respiratory infections like bronchitis and pneumonia
• A higher risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

There is no amount of ventilation, air filtering, or “smoking in another room” that fully protects others — the only way to remove the risk is to keep smoke out entirely.

Make your home and car smoke-free

• Don’t allow smoking or vaping inside your home or vehicle — make it a clear, friendly rule for everyone.
• Ask people to smoke outside and away from doors and windows.
• Choose smoke-free childcare, housing, and gathering places when you can.
• Remember that e-cigarette aerosol (“vapor”) is not harmless and can expose others to nicotine and chemicals.

Thinking about quitting?

Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your own health and your family’s — and it’s never too late. Help is free and available:

• Michigan Tobacco Quitline: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) — free coaching, and often free quit-medication support.
• Talk with your primary care doctor about medications and a quit plan.
• Local programs through Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, University of Michigan Health-West, Cherry Health, and the Kent County Health Department can help.

Every smoke-free day protects you and the people around you.