New Secondhand Smoke Awareness Campaign
“Tobacco is still very much a challenge to overcome in New Mexico,” said Department of Health Cabinet Secretary Lynn Gallagher. “According to the 2014 Report of the US Surgeon General, there is no safe amount of secondhand smoke.”
Children participating in the Kids for Smoke-Free Air Challenge are collecting signatures and pledges from adults promising to make their home and car smoke free. The Boys & Girls Clubs can receive up to $1,000 in prizes based on the number of pledges they receive. Parents interested in quitting tobacco will also receive information on free services available in New Mexico to help them quit.
The campaign focuses on both safety of children and healthy lifestyles. Studies show secondhand smoke can cause serious health problems in children including:
- Getting sick more often – including bronchitis and pneumonia.
- Wheezing and coughing.
- Triggering Asthma attacks that can become more severe and frequent; putting the child’s life in danger.
- Ear infections.
For more information on secondhand smoke, visit the Kids for Smoke-Free Air Challenge website. Information on NMDOH’s free tobacco cessation services, visit the Quit Smoking Now website. To learn more about boys and girls clubs, visit the Boys & Girls Clubs of America website.
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Nueva Campaña de Concienciación Sobre el Humo de Segunda Mano