STEP 1

DECIDE YOU WANT A SMOKE-FREE HOME

The first step is to think about how important it is for you and your household to have a smoke-free home. Everyone has different reasons for wanting to make his or her home smoke-free. It is important that you identify your own personal reasons so you can stay motivated to making and keeping your home smoke-free.

Think about the reasons it may be beneficial for you, your household members, and guests to have a smoke-free home and make a list of these reasons.

Here are a few common reasons to think about when deciding to make your home smoke-free:

• Your health and the health of your household members
• Your household can save money if smoker(s) are smoking less
• Your home will be free of the smoke smell
• The furniture, walls, and tables will have fewer stains
• You can reduce the chance of having a house fire

STEP 2

TALK TO PEOPLE YOU LIVE WITH ABOUT GOING SMOKE-FREE

This step involves talking to all your household members including family members, friends, or roommates about going smoke-free. Getting everyone together for a family or household meeting will give you a chance to talk about the reasons why you think it is important for you to have a smoke-free home.

Getting Ready For The Talk

• Set up a time to talk to everyone in the home. If you do not think a group talk will work, then talk to people you live with one or two at a time starting with those who will be most supportive.
• Have your list of reasons for wanting a smoke-free home ready and practice the conversation in your mind or with a friend.

TIP:

Provide facts about the harmful effects of secondhand smoke to help support your reasons in the talk.

TALKING WITH CHILDREN

If there are children in the home who are old enough to have the talk, be sure to ask them what they think about going smoke-free, they may have strong opinions about breathing in smoke.

If children are not old enough to have the talk and there are no other adults in the home, you may skip this step.

STEP 3

PICK A START DATE - MAKE IT OFFICIAL

Now that your family or household is ready, you can officially choose a date to make your home smoke-free. After this date, there will be NO smoking allowed in the home at any time for any reason.

• The date could be the start of a week, a month, or it could be today.
• It may be helpful to pick a memorable or important date, like a birthday or holiday, so you will be reminded of the date.

The main idea is to get everyone to agree to the start date.

TIP:

Grab the pledge or a piece of paper and write down your official smoke-free home start date, include your reasons and have everyone sign it. Post your pledge in a place where everyone can see it.

PREPARE FOR YOUR SMOKE-FREE HOME

Now that you have agreed to a no-smoking rule in your home, you can plan for how you will make it happen. Even if the smoke-free home date is a few weeks away there are things your household members can do to prepare the home to be smoke-free.

EXAMPLES

To prepare for the talk with your household members:

• Think about where smokers can go when they need a cigarette.
• Set up a comfortable place outside that smokers can get to easily.
• Make the smoking place away from doors and windows so that smoke does not blow into the house or apartment.

TELL PEOPLE ABOUT YOUR PLEDGE AND GET THEIR SUPPORT

Tell your family, friends and visitors about your decision to have a smoke-free home, and see how they can help support you.

BEFORE THEY COME OVER:

• Talk to visiting family or friends who are smokers about your smoke-free home rule.
• Set up a comfortable area outside for them to smoke or put out a bowl of gum, mints, or candy to help them curb the cravings until they can get outside.

STEP 4

MAKE YOUR HOME SMOKE-FREE

This step is all about making your home smoke-free! Your pledge day is the start date for your smoke-free home. From this day, you should be firm and make sure that no one smokes inside your home.

GETTING READY!

Here are some things you can do to get ready for your smoke-free home:

• Remind everyone in the home that from this day forward, no one can smoke inside the home.
• Tell everyone that your home is now smoke-free. This means when they come to visit, they cannot smoke inside the home. Tell them the reasons you think this is important.
• Put up your pledge to remind everyone that your home is smoke-free.
• Make sure the adults in the home are ready to help each other by watching small children if someone needs to go outside to smoke. That way the children are not left alone.
• Remove ashtrays and put away lighters and matches inside the home. Smokers should put away cigarettes so they are not out in the open in the home.
• Have a place outside for smoker(s) to go when they need a cigarette. It should be comfortable and easy to get to, but it should not be close to the doors or windows of the home.
• Put out a bowl of sugar-free gum or candy so there is something smokers can have inside instead of smoking a cigarette.

THINKING ABOUT QUITTING?!

For tips and information on quitting smoking, contact the free tobacco quitline at 1-800-QUIT NOW (784-8669), or CLICK HERE for additional smoking cessation resources.

CELEBRATE GOING SMOKE-FREE!

Celebrations don’t have to be elaborate, they can be as simple as:

• Planning a special celebration dinner
• Playing a game or watching a favorite show together
• Spending time on a hobby or special project

TIP:

Celebrate often to keep you motivated!

STEP 5

KEEP YOUR HOME SMOKE-FREE

This step is all about making your home smoke-free! Your pledge day is the start date for your smoke-free home. From this day, you should be firm and make sure that no one smokes inside your home.

Keeping your home smoke-free may not always be easy. Congratulate yourself each week that you keep your home smoke-free.

Keeping your home smoke-free will be an ongoing process. This may be a big change for you and your household members. It may take several tries before you make your home smoke-free, but keep taking as many steps as you can and don’t give up on the idea.

TIPS TO CONTINUE KEEPING A SMOKE-FREE HOME:

• Mark your official start date on the calendar and celebrate your success weekly or monthly until it becomes routine.
• Keep a list of reasons for having a smoke-free home in a place where it will be easily seen by everyone in your home.
• Follow-up with another family talk to check-in with your household members about the changes in the home.

SUPPORT SMOKERS!

Support smokers and help them think of other things to do if they want to smoke or remind them to go outside. If you or other smokers in the home are interested in quitting, contact the free tobacco quitline at 1-800-QUIT NOW (784-8669). CLICK HERE for additional smoking cessation resources.

THE 5-STEPS IN ACTION

Watch as Karen and her household use the five steps to make their home smoke-free.