Smoke Free Homes Service

Cartoon of family with young children and a no smoking sign

Stop smoking support for families in Worcestershire

Any adult living with a child or young person under the age of 19 in Worcestershire can now get expert support to stop smoking.

Smoke Free Homes service is available to help people quit smoking. It’s open to mums, dads, carers, In fact anyone who lives with a child or young person under the age of 19 in Worcestershire.

As over 80% of cigarette smoke is invisible and the best thing you can do to protect you and your family from the harms of second-hand smoke is to quit smoking.

You don’t have to give up alone! This friendly service will help with: 

  • Setting a quit date
  • Access to Free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
  • Access to Rechargeable vapes (for anyone over the age of 18)
  • 1:1 or joint family support sessions with a trained advisor to help you quit and stay on track
  • Ongoing monitoring and support

Adult / Parents / carers living in a household with a child or young person under the age of 19 can sign up to the service by emailing: whcnhs.smokefreehomes@nhs.net

 

Reasons to quit smoking

Three good reasons to quit smoking include: 

  1. For your baby now - reduced risk of sudden infant death (SIDS), chest infections, asthma and meningitis
  2. For your next pregnancy - quit now and you'll have a much lower chance of miscarriage, stillbirth or having a premature or unwell baby
  3. For you - more energy, fewer illnesses, more money in your pocket and reduced risk of long term illnesses like cancer, lung or heart diesease

Key Facts

  1. Quitting smoking is the most effective way to protect your child from the harms of secondhand smoke
  2. Two babies die suddenly every week in the UK because their mothers smoked during pregnancy or after birth
  3. Every year, more than 17,000 children under five are admitted to hospital in the UK because of the effects of secondhand smoke
  4. It’s illegal to smoke in a private vehicle with someone under the age on 18
  5. There is lots of support available to help you quit
  6. Quitting smoking could save you around £2,300 a year based on 10 cigarettes per day

FAQ - Why is having a smokefree home important?

Over 80% of cigarette smoke is invisible and stays in the air for several hours after a cigarette has been put out. Quitting smoking completely is the best thing you can do for your baby. If you are unable to quit, smoking outside, away from the house, also decreases the risks to your baby. 

FAQ - Does it matter if other people in the family smoke?

You stand a better chance of quitting smoking and staying smokefree if your partner or family members also quit. If you are all successful your home will be free from cigarette smoke for your child. Children of non-smokers have fewer illnesses and are less likely to become smokers themselves.  

FAQ - Can I get help to quit?

Yes. You are much more likely to quit successfully with the help og a trained stop smoking professional who can provide specialist; medicine or nicotine replacement (NRT) products to help you deal with cravings; and advice about using e-cigarettes. 

FAQ - Can't I just open my window?

No. Opening windows doesn't protect your baby from secondhand smoke, as it's invisable you won't know how much smoke is still in the room. If you need to smoke you should take at least severn steps outside to stop smoke drifiting inside. 

FAQ - What if I'm not ready to quit completely?

Some people need to use other sources of nicotine to help them keep their home smokefree and/or as a complete replacement for smoking. You can use NRT or e-cigarettes to protect yourself and your baby from harmful cigarette smoke. Ther eis currently no evidence of harm to those around you from exposure to e-cigarette vapour.