Your Child's Health

Children, cars and cigarette smoke—
a dangerous combination.

Smoking in the car with children exposes them to an increased risk of developing serious illnesses. 

Children regularly exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to suffer lung damage and breathing problems, and have an increased risk of developing severe illnesses, such as asthma.  Because their bodies are still developing, children are especially vulnerable to the poisons in second-hand smoke.  They also have less developed immune systems, so they’re more vulnerable to illness. 

There are more than 4,000 dangerous chemicals in cigarette smoke.  Because cars are such small spaces, a cigarette in the car exposes your kids to a greater concentration of harmful chemicals than in any other environment.  In fact, levels are up to 27 times higher than in a smoker’s home, and 20 times more toxic.

Smoking in the car exposes children to a greater risk of:

• Worsening asthma symptoms
• Bronchitis, pneumonia and respiratory tract infections
• Middle ear infections
• Increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or crib death
• Behavior issues and decreased attention and comprehension
• Slowed lung growth
• Increased risk of cancer and heart disease in adulthood

By giving your children a smoke-free ride, you are protecting their health and well-being—now and into adulthood.