Protect Children from Secondhand Smoke in Cars

No exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke is safe, but children are particularly vulnerable. Their bodies and lungs aren’t fully developed, so exposure to secondhand smoke leaves them at greater risk for serious health issues, including respiratory illness, ear and lung infections, asthma attacks, bronchitis and cancer.

In Oklahoma, it’s still legal to smoke inside cars when children are present. Tobacco smoke in cars can produce significant increases in carbon monoxide especially when windows are closed, which is harmful to children even in small amounts.

Representative Ty Burns recently introduced a bill to the Oklahoma State Legislature that would ban smoking cigarettes, cigars and pipes in vehicles when a child under 14 is present, HB 4002. Enacting this tobacco control policy would help protect our most vulnerable.

Banning smoking in cars with children present is one of the seven Tobacco Stops with Me policy recommendations to reduce tobacco use in Oklahoma.

Now is the time to get involved and notify your community about efforts to improve health in our state. Educate your legislators about the intersection between policy and health and thank those who are working to improve the health of Oklahomans.