Are you planning to create a child-proof smoking area at home?
As a parent that smokes, you face a unique dilemma. On the one hand, you need a place to smoke without constant interruptions. On the other hand, you also need to protect your children from the negative effects of tobacco.
According to a recent study, a total of 67,135 children were hospitalized in 2020 for home accidents. When safety is this common an issue, you need to be extremely careful with anything you do.
Smoking area is a tricky space as most people build it as an afterthought rather than something they carefully consider the implications of. Whether you’re getting your supplies from native smokes for less or anywhere else, the key is creating a space that’s completely secure and separate from where your children spend their time.
This article will give you practical advice on how to make your smoking space not only comfortable for you but also completely safe for your children.
The thing is…
Even the best laid plans need several levels of protection. You need to prepare for every possible scenario. Especially when kids are involved.
Let’s take a look:
- The Real Dangers to Your Kids
- Physical Barriers You Need
- Proper Storage Methods
- Create Safe Zones and Have an Emergency Plan
The Real Dangers to Your Kids
Before moving forward, here’s something to be clear about.
Secondhand smoke is just a part of the issue here. The more significant danger include unsupervised lighters, smoke residue, and cigarette butts that can easily become a choking hazard or poison toddler.
Put yourself in your child’s shoes for a moment. That flashy lighter? So interesting. Cigarette butts in an ashtray? Must be candy. Not to mention the smoking area itself becomes an open invitation for an adventure.
And the data only confirms this.
Recent research found that 25.3% of middle and high school students were exposed to secondhand smoke at home. Millions of children who end up breathing in harmful substances they never chose to inhale.
The bottom line:
The majority of smoking related injuries to children occur not because of malice but simple negligence. Most people do not think about the consequences of their actions until it is too late.
Physical Barriers You Need
Lockable doors. Thick walls. Sealed windows. The first line of defense in any smoking area is physical separation from the rest of the house.
The ideal smoking area should be completely cut off from the rest of the living space. This not only applies to smoke. Physical space children cannot access is much safer than one they can potentially enter.
Here’s what works:
Use a lockable door with a real lock. Not a simple latch anyone can easily pick. A combination lock or key lock installed at an unreachable height.
But do not stop there…
Ventilation systems have to be separate from the rest of the house as well. Smoke will find any opening to enter your child’s room. From air ducts to wall seams. After a single cigarette, smoke can remain in the air for hours if not properly ventilated.
Install a dedicated exhaust fan vented outside the house. Keep it far from windows and playrooms. You do not want smoke wafting back into your children’s bedrooms.
Proper Storage Methods
It is not just about the smoking area itself.
Most parents forget the fact that all the smoking related materials have to be stored in a safe place while you are not smoking.
The list of things that need safe storage include (but is not limited to):
- Lighters and matches
- Cigarettes and other tobacco products
- Ashtrays and other disposal containers
- Area cleaning products
Lock boxes are not an overkill in this situation. Consider buying multiple storage boxes with combination locks or key locks that you always carry with you.
Wait, there’s more…
It is even a good idea to use childproof storage containers for your cigarette butts as children can be poisoned by ingesting old cigarette butts they found in garbage cans or outside ashtrays. Get sealed lockable boxes your children cannot open even if they stumble upon them.
Create Safe Zones and Have an Emergency Plan
The ultimate safe smoking area is the one that is completely outside the house.
If you must smoke inside, however, choose the place as far away from the children’s area as possible. Garages, covered porches, or even dedicated rooms with a separate entrance would be your best bet.
Never smoke in:
- Bedrooms (yours or your kids’)
- Living and playrooms
- Cars with your children
- Bathrooms
Do not forget the fact that smoke residue (third hand smoke) can last for weeks if not months. This is especially true for crawling babies and toddlers that touch everything and place their hands in their mouths.
Emergency plans are also of the utmost importance.
No one wants to think about these things but accidents can happen. Even if you have made all the necessary precautions, you need to have an emergency plan in place.
Always have poison control numbers displayed prominently. Written down and in your phone. Make sure all adults in the household know what to do if children gain access to smoking materials.
Emergency contacts you need:
- Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
- Pediatrician’s after-hours contact
- Local emergency services
Teach older children that it is absolutely not okay to enter the smoking area. Do not make it some sort of mysterious temptation. Talk to them and be extremely straightforward about the dangers involved.
Ventilation and Air Quality Management
A proper ventilation system can literally save your life.
Air exchange in a smoking area needs to be a constant one. Cracking a window will not cut it. You need active ventilation that completely replaces the air several times per hour.
Install HEPA filters in adjoining rooms to significantly reduce the number of airborne particles. Do not wait 3 months like the instructions require. Change them every month.
Air quality monitors will also be your friend. They will let you know exactly where and when smoke moves in your home. Do not be surprised to find out smoke particles travel much further than you imagined.
Alternative Solutions You Should Consider
Here’s the truth. The safest place for a smoking area regarding your children is the one that does not exist.
If you are in a situation of planning a new smoking area you might as well take time to think about it and consider exploring resources for quitting smoking. Many health insurance policies cover cessation programs completely.
But if you have decided to keep smoking for now, there are at least some things you should think about. These include designated smoking times when no children are at home. Or an outdoor only policy where you keep all smoking materials outside the living space.
Daily Maintenance and Checks
Daily maintenance is a must for a child-proof smoking area.
Check the locks every day. Make sure all windows and doors close tightly. All the materials have to be put away.
Clean the area daily as a necessity and for safety reasons. A build-up of ash and other residues is much more of a danger for your children if they manage to find their way in one day.
Wrapping Things Up
It takes time, effort, and complete dedication to create a child-proof smoking area.
This is not something you can throw together. It has to be built with several levels of protection in mind. Levels that overlap and keep your children safe from all sides.
The good news is:
The steps to follow are pretty simple:
- Physical separation
- Storage with no exceptions
- Strict protocols
- Emergency plans
You can start with one thing today and then move on to another tomorrow. And before you know it, you will have built a solid child-proof protection system for your home.
The only thing that matters more than that is your children’s health and well-being.
Start one thing today. It does not have to be the most difficult one. But start. And then start another thing tomorrow. Soon, you will have created a whole system of protection that will give you complete peace of mind.
After all, what else matters more than your children’s health and well-being?
