How to Avoid the Dangerous Effects
The first step is to eradicate secondhand smoke from your living space. This means not smoking in your home or car, but also not letting others smoke in a closed environment when you and your children are present. This can take some time and effort, but it’s well worth it for a smoke-free, asthma-friendly environment.
Acknowledge That Smoke Travels
Smoking by a window or in another room with the door close is a nice gesture, but it’s not good enough. Smoke travels more than you might imagine: just because you don’t see the smoke wafting through the house, doesn’t mean it’s not leaking into other spaces. In fact, smoke is incredibly adept at filling up empty space, just like a gas.
The only way to know for sure that no smoke is traveling through your home is by insisting that smokers take it outside, at least a few feet away from any doors or windows. Since you can’t step outside of a moving vehicle, just keep your car smoke-free at all times.
Consider All Spaces
Eradicating smoke from the home is a natural starting point, but other spaces could expose you or your children to secondhand smoke, too. Be sure your child’s daycare, school and after-school programs are entirely free from secondhand smoke. If you’re unsure, ask the teachers, assistants, and supervisors directly.
Fortunately, most indoor public spaces are smoke-free these days, but some may still allow smoking. Bypass restaurants or cafes that still have smoking sections, even if they’re separated from the rest of the room and well-ventilated.
Be Polite, but Firm
Don’t be overly concerned with “interfering” in other people’s lives if they are smoking nearby — you have every right to keep your breathing space clean and trigger-free. On the other hand, people generally respond much more positively to kind requests than brash demands.
If you’re in a situation involving a stranger who’s smoking, begin by pointing out that their smoke is drifting into your face. Sometimes, people honestly aren’t aware that they may be bothering those around them, and many will apologetically remedy the problem right away. If they respond in a stubborn or rude manner, remove yourself from the situation, or recruit the help of a manager. There’s no point in getting too upset or giving a lecture to someone who doesn’t care to listen.
It may seem like a simple annoyance, but secondhand smoke is a very real danger to asthmatics. The fact that it travels quickly and is difficult to police certainly makes things more difficult, but remember that there are plenty of ways to avoid it. Your lungs, and your family’s lungs, will appreciate your efforts!
