Letter To The Editor
Each June, National Healthy Homes Month raises awareness on housing-related health hazards and the steps to take for safe, healthy homes. This year’s theme is “A Healthy Home at Any Age” to highlight the importance of a safe living space for everyone in the family.
One substantial way to maintain a healthy home is to keep it smokefree, whether it’s a private home or an apartment.
There is no safe amount of secondhand smoke exposure, and the home is the main place many children and adults are exposed. Secondhand smoke can cause damage and disease in virtually every organ in the body.
Additionally, thirdhand smoke or the toxic residue that persists in the air and on surfaces such as carpeting, furniture and walls when people smoke inside can continue to harm the health of residents, particularly young children for several months. Pets also are at risk from secondhand and thirdhand smoke.
Public and private multi-unit housing facilities across Montana and the nation have moved to solve this problem by making their properties, including individual units, smokefree.
The Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program offers free smokefree housing resources and support for residents and housing providers.
For more information, contact Jacklyn Damm at the Richland County Health Department, 406-433-2207 or visit tobaccofree.mt.gov.
Jacklyn Damm, Richland County Health Department Chronic Disease Prevention Specialist
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