Smoking and children
Because children have less developed airways and breathe faster than adults they breathe in more harmful chemicals.
If children breathe in second-hand smoke, they are at risk of all of the following:
- sudden infant death syndrome
- childhood asthma and other chronic respiratory symptoms
- acute lower respiratory tract infections in infancy and early childhood
- childhood cancers
- complications if they need a general anaesthetic
- decreased lung function
- Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
- reduced sense of smell
- long-term developmental effects
- dental problems.
Children and smoking in cars
Under the law, you must not smoke in a car with children under 16 years old.
You can receive a penalty or on-the-spot-fine from the Northern Territory (NT) Police if you break this law.
Smoking in a small space like a car increases the harmful effects of second-hand smoke, even with the window wound down.