Tobacco-Free

Advocate Calendar and Sample Activities

Sunday

For Adults:  After church, plan a family activity in a smoke free environment. If you’re not sure about the policy at this setting or establishment, ask.

For Children:  Do you know someone who smokes?  Ask them not to smoke inside today.  Make a poster to illustrate the message:  “If you can’ t quit, smoke outside for your kids.”

Monday

For Adults:  Take the Smoke-Free Home and Smoke-Free Vehicle Pledges! Pledge to keep your home smoke-free today.  Encourage other friends, relatives, or neighbors to do the same. Pledge to also keep your vehicle smoke free and display smoke-free signage for all to see.

For Children:  Draw a “No Smoking” sign (a cigarette in a circle with a line though it) or a sign that states, “This is a Smoke-Free Home.”  Display the sign(s) in your room or play area.  Talk with your parents about the reasons why it’s important to be smoke-free

Tuesday

For Adults:  Learn more about secondhand smoke and resources about smoke-free sites and tobacco prevention by visiting the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control’s website at www.scdhec.gov/cdhp/tobacco. Contact your local health department about local activities and materials available. And, share the information with other members of your congregation.

For Children:  Ask an adult about the secondhand smoke health risks to children and make sure children understand what to do/who to tell if they are exposed to secondhand smoke.

Wednesday

For Adults:  Discuss what can be done in your church/faith-based organization to protect children from secondhand smoke. Look specifically at the policy on tobacco use or smoking at your facility. If needed, adopt the model tobacco-free, smoke-free model policy for faith-based organizations.

For Children:  Look up “asthma” and “pneumonia” in the dictionary, an encyclopedia, or on the World Wide Web.  Think about how secondhand smoke can make these lung diseases worse.

Thursday

For Adults:  Write a note to the Pastor/leader at your church/faith-based organization explaining why secondhand smoke is hazardous to children’s health.  Share that you have taken the Smoke-free Home & Vehicle Pledges.  Ask the leaders at the church to include this message in the next month’s sermon and the bulletin and/or newsletter.

For Children:  Help pass out information about the Smoke-Free Home and Vehicle Pledges and use kid-friendly tobacco prevention materials during youth activities.

Friday

For Adults:  Ask the church/faith-based organization to adopt the model tobacco policy for your facility. Plan a celebration for the new and/or strengthened policy adoption.

For Children:  Come attend the celebration in recognition of new and/or improved tobacco policy to protect children and adults from the health hazards caused by secondhand smoke/environmental tobacco smoke.

Saturday

For Adults:  Volunteer to do a short program on secondhand smoke and children’s health at your church/faith-based organization, local school, daycare center, or through a hospital or community service organization to help spread the word to others in the community.

Children:  Make a list of reasons for not smoking/using tobacco.  Work in a group to see who can think of the longest list and post the reasons on-site where other youth and adults will see the information. Information adapted from the Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes secondhand smoke information. (HOTL, HFD 2004)