If You Want to Do More

Most Americans believe that smokers should never smoke around nonsmokers. Yet many workplaces and public buildings still allow smoking. To protect themselves and their children, some nonsmokers are trying to change the rules. They are working to convince lawmakers and businesses to protect nonsmokers from cancer-causing tobacco smoke.

Some steps for nonsmokers include:

• Find out about laws that may require your employer to ban or limit smoking. The organizations listed at the end of this booklet can give you more information.
  
  
• Urge your child's school, including preschool, to ban all indoor smoking. When smoking is allowed in some places (such as the teacher's lounge, storage areas, or private offices), secondhand smoke may reach your child through the ventilation system.
  
  
• Write to public officials, newspapers, and businesses to promote policies protecting nonsmokers.
  
  
• Attend public meetings and express your views.
  
  
• Know the law. When laws exist to protect you, insist that those in charge enforce them.
  
  
• Support organizations in your area that are working to protect nonsmokers. These include local or state offices of the the American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, or the American Heart Association.

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