Children

While the number of children exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes is dropping, 14% of households with children still allow smoking in the home. This means that more than 200,000 children in Massachusetts are not protected from smoke in their own homes.

Secondhand smoke exposes children to many risks.
Secondhand smoke causes asthma attacks in children, increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and also makes children more likely to develop or be hospitalized for:

• Coughs
• Colds
• Ear Infections
• Pneumonia
• Bronchitis

Give your children smoke-free lives.

• Do not let anyone smoke around your children.
• Make your home and car smoke-free.
• Ask guests or family members who smoke to smoke outdoors.

If you smoke, the best way to protect your children is to quit.


Download 8.5 X 11 sheets to print out and use:
Easy-read fact sheet in English
Easy-read fact sheet in Spanish
Secondhand smoke plan in English
Secondhand smoke plan in Spanish

Coloring sheet (English only)


Download our media campaign flyers:
Before you light up, Look down (A)(PDF)
Before you light up, Look down (B)(PDF)

Radio ads spread the word about secondhand smoke increasing asthma attacks and ear infections in children:

Listen to the Asthma radio spot in English. Read the transcript.
Listen to the Asthma radio spot in Spanish. Read the transcript.
Listen to the Ear Infection radio spot in English. Read the transcript.
Listen to the Ear Infection radio spot in Spanish. Read the transcript.

Free telephone support is available for all smokers and their families at 1-800-Try-to-Stop (1-800-879-8678).