Environmental
Tobacco Smoke (ETS)
and Your Child
What YOU should know!
What is ETS?
Environmental tobacco smoke
(ETS) is sometimes called
‘second-hand’ or ‘passive
smoke’.
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What are the risks of ETS
during Pregnancy?
Risk of miscarriage
Low Birth weight
Preterm delivery or
premature baby
The baby has a longer
stay in the hospital after
birth
ETS is the smoke from a
smoldering cigarette or cigar
and the smoke exhaled by the
smoker.
What does ETS do?
Environmental tobacco smoke
is inhaled by everyone around
the smoker: children, adults
and even pets. Pregnant
smokers directly expose their
babies when they smoke.
What are the effects of ETS on
Children and Babies ?
 Increased respiratory
infections, chest colds and
ear infections
 Increased risk of asthma
and wheezing
 Increased risk of SIDS sudden infant death
syndrome or crib death
 Absent more from daycare
and school
 Risk of behavior problems
 Children are more likely to
be smokers
What can I do about ETS ?
 Quit smoking
 Create a smoke-free home
 Stop smoking in the car
 Avoid smoking in the same
room with your children
 Ask friends and relatives not
to smoke around your
children
What can I do if I am pregnant?
 Stop smoking
 Ask your physician for help
quitting.
Resources for quitting
 www.lungusa.org/tobacco
 http://www.quitworks.com/
 1-800-trytoquit
 2004