People are being reminded about the dangers of second-hand smoke in homes this Christmas, as part of a drive to encourage people to ditch the habit for 2026.
Health leaders at Leicestershire County Council are highlighting that smoking indoors doesn’t just harm the smoker, it puts children, older relatives and anyone with breathing difficulties at risk.
Second-hand smoke is linked to thousands of deaths in the UK every year, including hundreds of non-smokers who die from heart disease and stroke. Children exposed to smoke are more likely to suffer asthma attacks, chest infections and ear problems and 17,000 children under five go to hospital every year because of illness caused by second-hand smoke. Smoking indoors also increases the risk of a house fire by 35%.
“Christmas and New Year is a time to celebrate with loved ones and it’s also the perfect moment to think about the year ahead. Making your home smoke-free keeps everyone safe and if you’re considering quitting, the New Year is an ideal opportunity to start.”
Person:Councillor Michael Squires, Cabinet Member for Health
Free, confidential support is available for anyone ready to quit smoking. QuitReady provides practical tools and personalised advice.
QuitReady Leicestershire has supported over 13,000 people to quit smoking since 2017. So far in 2025, nearly 1,100 people have successfully quit smoking after four weeks many who had struggled for years and 505 residents have pledged to keep their homes and cars smokefree.For FREE advice and support to quit smoking, call: 03456466666, Text ‘ready’ to 66777 or visit our website.