Family members/Friends that smoke....

[Thomass_mum]

Hi

I was just wondering what steps people take/have taken with family members/friends that smoke. My sons asthma has been bad over the last couple of months and I want to reduce potential irritants as much as possible and wondered how far people go with this?

Thanks

x

[Hidden]

Hi,

Cigarette smoke is a massive instant trigger for me so nobody smokes around me at all.

I think if you explain to people what could happen,they will happily smoke outside.

Most smokers are now used to this as they can't smoke inside in public places.

Good luck!

X

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I don't go in to houses where there is a smoker who smokes indoors, and our house is a no smoking zone. In this day I think most folk are respectful enough not to smoke in the house of a non smoker - if they aren't they need a good talking to!

[Thomass_mum]

I don't allow smoking in my house at all neither I nor my partner smoke. The problem comes with other family members and friends who do smoke in their house. I hate taking my son anywhere people smoke indoors even if they don't smoke while we are there I find the smell still makes me wheezy and my asthma is minor. Also, what about the smoky smell on smokers clothes when they come round or even in after nipping out for a smoke. I am probably being over the top but my son has been so ill recently I don't want to take any risks.

[Hidden]

I have stopped caring what people think. If they want to smoke then that is there choice, i have a condition that means that this decision puts my life in danger. So I will happily ask a stranger if they have been smoking recently if i can smell it on them, and will move away if they have. If i am stood under a shelter in the rain and someone is smoking I will ask them to put it out or move away from me. You'd be surprised how many people are really good about it, and often highly apologetic. Its a little harder with family and friends as you can't just brush it off if they react badly. Just explain that it's nothing personal, its about protecting your son! I certainly wouldn't let anyone smoke around him, and would avoid people who have recently been smoking and smokers houses. If these things are unavoidable then ask for windows to be opened prior to your arrival and ask if they can avoid smoking in the house for as long as possible before you go round. These steps may be extreme, and i guess it depends how much of a trigger smoke is for your son, but for me doing this could stop a visit to A&E so its worth it when you actually think about it! dont worry about kicking up a fuss, they wouldn't be allowed to throw asbestos around

[Hidden]

I know what you mean as I have a similar problem with my mother in law and sister in law. They both smoke and do go outside to do it but they often leave the door open and it all blows in the house. Even if they do shut the door (I am forever reminding them but they are hopeless at remembering) they stink of it when they come in and I hate my 4 yr old asthmatic son to be around it, Or even my 6 yr old who isn't asthmatic, and I can't stand it either.

The trouble is, my inlaws want to take the boys on holiday next year but i am really worried about the effect her smoking might have on my son.

Obviously she is aware of his asthma but she truly has no concept of the effects her smoking can have on other people and no matter how you address it with her she still thinks all she has to do is go outside to smoke, not realising that itis on her clothes and hair for long fret each cigarette. I simply could not let him spend a whole week in the environment.

It amazes me how so many smokers seem oblivious to these facts, but I don't think there is any chance of changing her now!

Good luck with your situation

Rebecca

[Thomass_mum]

It is nice to hear people faced with the same issues I have. Becx my problem sounds very similar to yours. My OH doesn't seem to grasp how serious asthma is despite my trying to tell him which is frustrating. You think he would realise after our son was in the HDU recently. He just doesn't seem to grasp how bad cigarette smoke is for most asthmatics.