Smoke can make your children suffer from a range of conditions including coughing, colds, ear infections, pneumonia and asthma attacks. Statistics show that 40 to 50 percent of children under age 5 live with a smoker.

The National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions is conducting a pilot program called Clean Air for Kids that aims to reduce children’s exposure to smoke. Health workers talk to families about the risk of secondhand smoke to their children who are receiving home health-care services. The program is sponsored by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Among those who have tried, many realize that quitting smoking altogether can be difficult. These tips can help you reduce your child’s exposure to secondhand smoke:

	Smoke outside; ask others to smoke outside.
	Sit with your child in non-smoking areas.
	Don’t smoke in your car if your child is with you.
	Smoke only near an open window.
	Do not allow smoking in the same room your child is in.
	Look for childcare workers who won’t smoke when they’re with your children.

Reducing smoking is helpful, but remember, the best way to help your children’s health is for your home to be smoke-free.