Secondhand Smoke Citizens Advisory Board
by Dorothy Harden…….
How does secondhand smoke affect your children’s health? Well! We all know that secondhand smoke is not good for our children! So! What should we know?
We should know that: Chemicals and poisons in tobacco smoke are; Ammonia, Benzene, Butane, Cadmium, Hydrogen cyanide; just to name a few. For a full list of chemicals and carcinogens in tobacco smoke go here.
Children breathe the poisons from secondhand smoke and get sick.
One out of every 4 children ages 3 to 11 in the United States lives with at least one smoker. Studies show that older children whose parents smoke get sick more often than nonsmoking families, they have bronchitis, pneumonia more often and secondhand smoke can also trigger asthma attacks and ear infections. Secondhand smoke causes premature death and disease in children. Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and respiratory infections. See here for more facts and studies.
Smoking KILLS more people than alcohol, AIDS, car accidents, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined. I am going to say that again! Smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car accidents, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined! Of the roughly 270,000 children who become new regular, daily smokers each year, almost a third will ultimately die from it! Will die! I am shocked! See here for the toll tobacco use has on the US.
On average, smokers die 10 years earlier than nonsmokers. More stats here.
The total annual health care expenditures from secondhand smoke exposure: $6 Billion! I am going to say that again. The total annual health care expenditures from secondhand smoke exposure is $6 Billion! I still have a hard time with that number!
Productivity losses caused by smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke each year: $156.6 BILLION
I am going to say that again: $156.6 Billion. I also have a hard time with that number!
Research studies shosw that kids are three times as sensitive to tobacco advertising than adults.
Annual tobacco industry spending on marketing its products nationwide: $9.6 billion= $26+ mil a day
Annual tobacco industry contribution to federal Candidates: $1.6 Million!!
Annual tobacco industry expenditures lobbying Congress in 2010 $16.6 Million!!
Tobacco companies also spend enormous amounts to influence state and local politics; and, when threatened by the federal McCain tobacco control bill in 1998, spent more than $125 million in direct and grassroots lobbying to defeat it. Since 1998, Altria (Philip Morris) has spent more on lobbying Congress than almost any other business.
Tobacco will kill one billion people in the 21st century! Unless we act now!
Secondhand Smoke Citizens Advisory Board so far has 398 signatures saying please do something in Key West about Secondhand Smoke!
Secondhand Smoke Citizens Advisory Board meets at Bayview Park every other Thursday, if you would like to come by and sign our petition and let Key West know we must do something now!; other states have overcome the tobacco’s grip, why not Key West!
If you have a story to tell about smoking and health and would like to share it please send it to [email protected] with your name, email and phone number. Thank you.
Secondhand Smoke Citizens Advisory Board is looking for help, we are not asking for any money. You can email me at [email protected] and please email the Mayor and the Commissioners and let them know how you feel about secondhand smoke in your community. Thank you.
Smoking would been over many years ago if it was not so profitable to the government. Truth is the government needs the tax money. Social security hopes it kills you so you receive fewer years. Any other drug as harmful would be illegal. That is why you can still buy it. Slowly people are stopping and the government is looking for something to tax to make up for it. As a kid I was forced to deal with it all my life and thankfully I never started.