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Health Department: Take the Smoke-Free Home Pledge




NEWARK– The Licking County Health Department encourages all Licking County residents to join the hundreds of Ohioans who are protecting their families, friends and pets from secondhand smoke by taking the Smoke-Free Home Pledge at www.lickingcohealth.org/hed/smokefreehomes.html.

Did you know smoking is the number one cause of home fire deaths in the U.S., and usually it is not the smoker who dies?

Secondhand smoke is the smoke exhaled by the smoker and the smoke from the lit end of the cigarette. Thirdhand smoke is the residue of nicotine and other toxins that sticks to surfaces such as carpet, furniture, walls and clothes.

Thirdhand smoke can last for weeks or months. Just like secondhand smoke, these toxins may cause the same negative effects as exposure to secondhand smoke. Children, elderly adults and disabled individuals are especially vulnerable to thirdhand smoke exposure.

There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand or thirdhand smoke for anyone. Many Ohioans are exposed to secondhand and thirdhand smoke within their homes every day. If someone in your household smokes, ask them to smoke outside, wash their hands, and change their clothes before holding an infant or child.

If you know someone who wants to quit tobacco, Licking County residents can call the Ohio Tobacco Quit Line at 1-800-784-8669, or Licking Memorial Health Systems’ Quit for Your Health Program at (740) 348-7848. Free online help is available at ohio.quitlogix.org.

For more information on the Smoke-Free Home Pledge Campaign or advice on talking to your landlord about making your property smoke-free, contact Nicole Smith, Health Educator at the Licking County Health Department, at (740) 349-1663 or nsmith@lickingcohealth.org.



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