Children and secondhand smoke exposure
From the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention
• The home is the place where children
are most exposed to secondhand
smoke and it’s a major place for sec-
ondhand smoke exposure for adults. 1,3
• Children who live in homes where
smoking is allowed have higher levels
of cotinine (a biological marker of
secondhand smoke exposure) than
children who live in homes where
smoking is not allowed. 3
• Although secondhand smoke expo-
sure among children has fallen over
the past 15 years, children are still
more heavily exposed to secondhand
smoke than adults. 3,4
• About two in five U.S. children age
3-11 (40.6 percent) are exposed to
secondhand smoke. 4
• In the U.S., the percentage of chil-
dren and teens living with at least
one smoker is about three times the
percentage of nonsmoking adults who
live with a smoker. 3
Health effects of smoking and
secondhand smoke on children
•
•
•
•
•
Because their bodies are develop-
ing, infants and young children are
especially vulnerable to the poisons
in secondhand smoke. 1
Both babies whose mothers smoke
while pregnant and babies who are
exposed to secondhand smoke after
birth are more likely to die from sud-
den infant death syndrome (SIDS)
than babies who are not exposed to
cigarette smoke. 1,2
Mothers who are exposed to second-
hand smoke while pregnant are more
likely to have lower birth weight
babies, which makes babies weaker
and increases the risk for many health
problems. 1
Babies whose mothers smoke while
pregnant or who are exposed to sec-
ondhand smoke after birth have weaker
lungs than other babies, which increases
the risk for many health problems. 1,2
Secondhand smoke exposure causes
acute lower respiratory infections
such as bronchitis and pneumonia in
infants and young children. 1,2
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Making your home and vehicles
smoke-free can reduce secondhand
smoke exposure among children and non-
smoking adults. 1,2,3,4 Some studies indicate
that these rules also can help smokers
quit and can reduce adolescents’ risk of
becoming smokers. 5
•
Secondhand smoke exposure causes
children who already have asthma to
experience more frequent and severe
attacks. 1,2
Secret Garden Tour to raise money for
Newport’s Samaritan House shelter
The 12 th annual Secret Garden Tour,
sponsored by the Samaritan House Home-
less Family Shelter in Newport, Ore., is
set for June 28 from 12-5 p.m.
Tickets are $25 and include visits to
the gardens plus light snacks and wine.
Participants are encouraged to bring their
own water.
Tour participants will go on a self-
guided adventure to several gardens
in Makai and Waldport on the Central
Oregon Coast.
This year’s gardens include one with
a unique view of Alsea Bay and bridge
as well as a lovely terraced rose garden.
Other gardens highlight unusual features
like a fire pit sitting area, a greenhouse
with carnivorous pitcher plants and spec-
tacular garden art.
This special event provides an oppor-
tunity to see lovely gardens that normally
are enjoyed only by the owners and their
friends and family. From the casual week-
end gardener to the serious hobbyist, all
gardeners can be inspired by what they see.
The money raised from this event
benefits the Samaritan House Homeless
Family Shelter, the only homeless family
shelter between Tillamook and Coos Bay.
Its mission is to shelter, educate and guide
homeless families with children toward
independent living.
Tickets are available at Bear Valley
Nursery and Landscaping in Lincoln
City, JC Thriftway Market in Newport,
Toledo Feed and Seed, in Florence at
Laurel Bay Gardens and at the Samaritan
House office, 715 NW Bay St. in New-
port. Tickets also are available online at
brownpapertickets.com.
For more information, visit samfam-
shelter.org or call 541-574-8898.
Openings for Siletz Tribal Court Judges
An announcement accepting applications for the judges’ positions in the Siletz
Tribal Court is available for those interested in applying.
All judge positions are coming to term end on June 30, 2015, so recruitment for
the positions of chief judge, associate judges and appellate judges for the Tribe’s
District Court, Gaming Court and Community Court will occur.
Applications are available on the Tribal website (ctsi.nsn.us) in the Employ-
ment section or by contacting the Tribe’s Human Resources Department at
541-444-2532 or 800-922-1399.
8
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Siletz News
•
June 2015
Secondhand smoke exposure causes
respiratory symptoms, including
cough, phlegm, wheezing, and breath-
lessness, among school-age children. 1,2
Children exposed to secondhand smoke
are at increased risk for ear infections
and are more likely to need an operation
to insert ear tubes for drainage. 1,2
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The Health Consequences of Involuntary Expo-
sure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon
General: Secondhand Smoke: What It Means To
You (cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/sgr/2006/
consumer_summary/index.htm). Atlanta: U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Cen-
ters for Disease Control and Prevention, National
Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2006
[accessed 2015 Feb 6].
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
A Report of the Surgeon General: How Tobacco
Smoke Causes Disease: What It Means to You
(cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/sgr/2010/con-
sumer_booklet/index.htm). Atlanta: U.S. Depart-
ment of Health and Human Services, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for
Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion,
Office on Smoking and Health, 2010 [accessed
2015 Feb 6].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vital
Signs: Nonsmokers’ Exposure to Secondhand
Smoke – United States, 1999-2008. Morbidity and
Mortality Weekly Report 2010; 59(35):1141-6
[accessed 2015 Feb 6].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vital
Signs: Disparities in Nonsmokers’ Exposure to
Secondhand Smoke – United States, 1999-2012.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2015; 64
(4):103-8 [accessed 2015 Feb 6].
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The Health Consequences of Involuntary Expo-
sure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon
General. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease
Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smok-
ing and Health, 2006 [accessed 2015 Feb 6].
Adrienne Crookes,
Champion
I wish to honor a champion who
has been instrumental in advocating
for the health of the community and
Siletz Tribe.
Adrienne Crookes used com-
munity-friendly smoke-free signs
to provide healthy environments for
people who are at risk when exposed
to secondhand smoke, such as
infants, children, Elders and people
with COPD and heart disease.
Her efforts make the community
feel welcome while ensuring the
health of attendees.
She has provided helpful and
insightful guidance for healthy
events.
With honor and respect,
Patti McKinney
TPEP Coordinator