A person who smokes has a choice; however, non-smokers do not have a choice as they are victims of secondhand smoke. Taking a stand on secondhand smoke will keep you much healthier and possibly even help someone you love think twice about their own unhealthy habit, too.

Watch this compelling video about the triumphs and tragedies of people who have been exposed to secondhand smoke.

Local authorities can enact public policies to protect people from secondhand smoke and protect children from tobacco-related diseases and addiction. There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke; therefore, it is important that such policies be as strong as possible and that they do not prevent action at other levels of government.

Many U.S  local governments, and even federal governments in other countries, have decided that protecting the health of employees and others in public places is of the utmost importance. Many have passed clean indoor air laws in recent years. Although the laws vary from place to place, they are becoming more common. Detailed information on smoking restrictions in each state is available from the American Lung Association at http://slati.lungusa.orgh.  Detailed information on the local municipalities that have gone smoke free in the state of South Carolina is at www.smokefreesc.org.