Go Out For Your Kids

MontPIRG has teamed up with the Consumer Federation of America Foundation (CFAF) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in an effort to address the effects of secondhand smoke in the American home. 

Breathing secondhand smoke can be harmful to children's health.  Yet, their health can easily be protected by making homes smoke-free. 

The adverse health effects on children are well documented.  Exposure to second hand smoke increases risks of bronchitis and pneumonia, asthma, ear infections, coughing, wheezing, and decreased fetal growth, not to mention links to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and childhood cancer.

Not only is it known that children who are continually exposed to second hand smoke miss more days of school, but secondhand smoke may have some cognitive and behavioral effects on children, leading to poor performance in school and on standardized tests. 

Children have very little control whether or not smoking occurs in the home.  That is why MontPIRG is working to get parents to do their kids a favor by taking their habits outside. 

We are asking parents to take the Smoke Free Home Pledge.  To pledge to protect children from the health risks of secondhand smoke in your home, just call 1-800-513-1157.  Or take the pledge online at: 
www.consumerfed.org/ets/form.html

Encourage your friends and family members to do so as well.  Let's do the right thing for our kids. 

For information visit: 
The EPA secondhand smoke website
The CFAF Smoke-Free Pledge website