Tobacco
Introduction
Everyone needs to become more aware about the harmful effects that second-hand tobacco smoke can have on the health of a child, both before and after birth. Second-hand tobacco smoke increases the likelihood of complications for the fetus, as well as complications during the pregnancy and delivery. Once the child is born, the harmful affects of second-hand tobacco smoke will continue.
Whether a pregnant woman smokes or is exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke, chemicals cross the placenta into the unborn baby. Complications to the fetus can arise because the placenta does not filter out the chemicals produced by second-hand tobacco smoke. Carbon monoxide and nicotine are two chemicals which greatly affect the fetus. Carbon monoxide reduces the ability of the blood to carry adequate oxygen to the unborn baby's tissues. Nicotine can affect the central nervous system, genital, gastrointestinal, and urinary systems of the unborn baby. Nicotine can also cause placental blood vessels to narrow, diminishing the baby's food supply.
Complications that can arise during a pregnancy include miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy (egg implants outside the uterus), and premature rupture of the membranes which can lead to premature birth or the development of infection. Even if no complications appear during pregnancy, after delivery, a newborn baby who was exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke in the womb is at a higher risk for: low birth weight, damaged lungs, and death within one month after birth.
The effects of second-hand tobacco smoke continue to affect the child after birth. The harmful products in second-hand tobacco smoke can be passed to the infant in breast milk. Infants and children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of second-hand tobacco smoke because they are still maturing physically and mentally. Children absorb more smoke because they breathe faster than adults, inhale more air relative to their body weight, and have a higher metabolism than adults. Infants and children who are exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke are at a greater risk for:
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
- Ear Infections
- Asthma
- Respiratory Infections (i.e. bronchitis and pneumonia)
- Allergies
- Development Problems (i.e. learning and memory)
- Behavioral Problems (i.e. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
Links
The Saskatchewan Prevention Institute hosts the Coordinator position for the Saskatchewan Tobacco Reduction Strategy (STRS). For more information on the STRS, contact Cara at czukewich@preventioninstitute.sk.ca
Ministry of Health, Saskatchewan Tobacco Reduction Strategy (STRS)
www.health.gov.sk.ca/tobacco-reduction
The provincial strategy is to reduce tobacco use in Saskatchewan through cohesive, coordinated community led action.
Saskatchewan's tobacco reduction strategy has three goals:
Prevention: to encourage communities to create environments where it is easier to make healthy choices around tobacco use.
Protection: to eliminate exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (second-hand smoke) and prevent young people from accessing tobacco products.
Cessation: to encourage and assist tobacco users to stop or reduce their tobacco use.
The Ministry of Health is pleased to provide you with links to the 2010 Progress Report for the provincial tobacco reduction strategy: Building a Healthier Saskatchewan: A strategy to reduce tobacco use, and the 2011 Strategy Action Plan. They are posted on the Ministry of Health website. The link is http://www.health.gov.sk.ca/tobacco-reduction
or click on:
Tobacco Reduction Strategy Progress Report 2011 (pdf)
Tobacco Reduction Strategy Action Plan 2011 - 2012 (pdf)
Expecting to Quit
http://www.expectingto quit.ca/
Resources
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2-V-297 Loan
PREGNANCY AND SMOKING - VHS - (12.5 MIN.)
Directional Learning CanadaThis video illustrates the dangers of smoking - to smokers, to unborn babies, and to people that are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. It reinforces the notion that anytime is a good time to quit and outlines strategies to help pregnant women quit smoking - for their own health and for the health of their unborn child.
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3-301 Download
YOU AND YOUR BABY NEED A SMOKE-FREE HOME RIGHT FROM THE START - BROCHURE
Saskatchewan Prevention Institute, Revised 2003Outlines some of the harmful effects smoking and environmental tobacco smoke can have on pregnancy, as well as effects on children. Offers some tips on quitting.
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3-303 Download
SMOKING AND ETS - FACT SHEET
Saskatchewan Prevention Institute, Revised 2003This fact sheet outlines the hazards of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) to pregnant women and to children.
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TOBACCO SMOKE: THE RISK TO UNBORN BABIES, PREGNANT WOMEN AND CHILDREN - BOOKLET
Saskatchewan Prevention Institute, Revised 2010This booklet outlines the problems that can result from smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke. Information focuses on the types of smoke, issues in sexual and reproductive health, pregnancy complications, and effects on the newborn, infants, and children. Includes information on how to protect children and pregnant women from the effects of tobacco smoke. Audience: developed for professionals.
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CHILDREN NEED TO BREATHE MORE THAN YOU NEED TO SMOKE - BROCHURE
Saskatchewan Prevention Institute, Revised 2012This brochure, targeted to parents and caregivers, outlines the health effects of second-hand tobacco smoke on children. Issues presented include ear, throat, and lung infections, asthma, allergies, SIDS, and overall status of health. Support for the development of the brochure was provided from the Tobacco Demand Reduction Strategy Initiative of Health Canada.
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3-312 Order
MAKE YOUR HOME AND CAR SMOKE-FREE: A GUIDE TO PROTECTING YOUR FAMILY FROM SECOND - HAND SMOKE - BOOKLET
Health Canada, Tobacco Control Programme, 2006This booklet talks about the effects about second-hand smoke and the benefits of a smoke-free home and car. There are guidelines to follow to help plan a smoke-free environment for the whole family. This booklet includes a smoke-free space sticker for office or car window and a fridge magnet.
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3-V-285 Loan
PHYSICAL EFFECT OF SMOKING - VHS - (22 MIN.)
Medical Audio Visual Communications Inc., 2001This video includes animation and real life medical pictures of the effects of second-hand smoke on your body. The moderator uses the ABCs to describe the physical effects of smoke. Each physical effect is described in detail: what happens to your body, why it harms you, how smoke aggravates the condition, and statistics. Second-hand smoke, interventions, prevention, addictions, and cessation are addressed. Suitable for all audiences. -
3-V-287 Loan
SMOKING & PREGNANCY - VHS - (13 MIN.)
Medical Audio Visual Communications Inc., 2001This video discusses the effects of smoking during pregnancy, breastfeeding, passive smoking, and methods for quitting smoking. The video positively encourages women to keep themselves and their babies away from environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Useful for health professionals and women.
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3-V-296 Loan
WOMEN AND TOBACCO: SEVEN DEADLY MYTHS - VHS - (17 MIN.)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2000This 17-minute educational video featuring Christy Turlington explores the myths about smoking and empowers all women to become or stay smoke-free. The video discusses the serious health effects of smoking on women and describes the benefits of quitting smoking.
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3-V-317 Loan
TOBACCO X-FILES REVISITED - VHS - (28 MIN.)
Kinetic Video, 2001This "conspiracy" video paints an ugly picture of the truth about tobacco use, as a sleuthful pair of undercover agents expose a sleazy tobacco executive paid to lie about what the giant industry until now has done so well to hide. Students see the other side of the hype and glamour designed to target teenagers. Mixing gross effects with poignant testimonials from recovering teenage nicotine addicts, as well as regretful head and neck cancer victims, the outrageous truths about tobacco use are vividly discussed for student prevention. Audience: grades 7 - 12. -
3-V-323 Loan
BARB TARBOX: A LIFE CUT SHORT BY TOBACCO - VHS - (17 MIN.)
Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission, 2003Barb Tarbox, a 42-year-old woman from Edmonton, Alberta was diagnosed with Stage Four terminal lung cancer after smoking since grade 7. Refusing to let cigarettes take another life, Barb began speaking to students across Canada warning of the dangers associated with smoking. This video captures the spirit of Barb's presentations and the passion that characterized the last months of her life. WARNING: This video contains emotional material regarding Barb Tarbox's experience with lung cancer, and some content may be disturbing to preteens. Viewer discretion is advised. Audience: grades 7 - 12. -
3-V-345 Loan
A TIME TO QUIT - VHS - (20 MIN.)
AADAC (Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission), 2005This video features women sharing their experiences of quitting smoking before, during and after pregnancy. Although the women are proud of their accomplishments, they talk honestly about the difficulties they faced and the challenges that lay ahead. We hope these stories will give inspiration to other women who are thinking about quitting. It may not be easy, but both you and your baby are worth it. This video can be used by health care workers, or it can be viewed by women on their own. A discussion guide is included inside this video case.
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3-V-346 Loan
HOLDING YOUR OWN: STRATEGIES DURING PREGNANCY AND MOTHERHOOD TO STOP SMOKING - VHS - (24 MIN.)
The Lung Association, 1998Holding Your Own is available for prenatal care providers, counsellors, and educators to provide their clients with smoking cessation strategies that work. This video is about women helping women to gain control of their smoking behaviour in a realistic, non-judgmental, and supportive fashion. Audience: health professionals and expectant mothers.
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3-V-354 Loan
NICOTINE AND THE BRAIN - VHS - (18 MIN.)
Kinetic Video, 2005Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances known. This program explains just how nicotine affects the brain and why it is so addicting. Includes a state-of-the-art treatment section as well as a copier ready handout. -
5-V-372 Loan
I AM YOUR CHILD VIDEO SERIES: STOP SMOKING NOW: REASONS NOT TO SMOKE WHEN YOU'RE PREGNANT - DVD - (30 MIN.)
Parents Action for Children, 2005When you're pregnant, everything you eat, drink and breathe affects your health and your baby's health. So when you smoke, your baby does too.
Quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do for your baby. When you stop smoking, you:
- increase the amount of oxygen your baby will get,
- lower the risk that your baby will be born too early, and
- increase your chances of having a healthy baby.
No matter how long you have been smoking, quitting smoking also benefits your health, gives you more energy, and lets you feel good about what you've done for yourself and your baby. This video provides support, guidance and information about resources to help you resist the urge to smoke. We hope that you will watch this video and act on it, because there's never been a better time - or a better reason - to stop smoking.
“KNOW Tobacco ... Think. Learn. Live.” New resources for youth, teachers and community educators!
The Lung Association of Saskatchewan, in partnership with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health and with guidance from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education, developed two Health Education Resource Guides for teachers and health educators, specific to tobacco called “KNOW Tobacco ... Think. Learn. Live.” These resources support education and empowerment of youth. Learners are engaged to make educated and informed healthy choices through creative and critical thinking strategies. Because of the high youth smoking rates, particularly in Saskatchewan, stakeholders have recognized the importance of having holistic health education activities specific to tobacco. The resource guides align with the newly revised Saskatchewan Health Education Curricula for Grades K-3 & 6-8. They are available from our new Got Lungs? website at www.gotlungs.ca/knowtobacco
Tobacco continues to be the primary cause of preventable disease and death in Canada (Health Canada, 2010). Saskatchewan has the highest youth (ages 15-19) smoking rates. The 2010 Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey shows an increase in youth smoking rates from 18% to 20% of Saskatchewan youth.
Sacred Tobacco, Sacred Children: Strategies to Promote Smoke-free Homes for Aboriginal families.
This video provides information about the difference between traditional use of tobacco and commercial tobacco. This video comes with a facilitator guide and supports you when presenting the video to groups. A great way to start a discussion about smoke-free homes for Aboriginal families.
http://vimeopro.com/bigsoul/sacred-tobacco-sacred-children