Now that's out of the way- you know what really pisses me off? These idiot assholes who bring their young kids in for asthma and reek of cigarette smoke. It makes me sad to even acknowledge how much it happens. Pretty much without fail I find out while taking care of these kids that it's not their first visit to the ER, either. Oftentimes, they look like shit and need to be IV'd and transferred, and I find out it's not even their first IV start either. Seriously?
If you and your kid both smell like a pool hall, you're obviously still smoking inside your house and probably your car with the toddler in tow. If the kid has been to the hospital for this before, I cannot fathom that you don't understand that this will almost certainly lead to another visit where your child will again be held down by several adults and get another damn IV start. The weather isn't that bad here. Literally the only change you have to make is walking outside for a matter of minutes. Even if you weren't told that this simple lifestyle change could be the difference between your child sitting at home playing or going to the ER and being tortured, which I find very hard to believe, it's a pretty simple cause and effect relationship that anyone who isn't a complete dumbass should be able to observe. The only two options then, are that you're really, really stupid, or you are such a shitty parent that you really don't care about your child's health enough to step outside for three minutes. Judging by the reactions I get from the education I attempt to give on this subject, I'm guessing it's the later. A butthurt "Are you saying this is my fault?" is not generally the response I get from parents that care.
But yes, since you're asking, I am saying that. Because it is your fault. Please, continue smoking. Just not around your small child. It isn't that hard.
California has made smoking in a car with children an offense so egregious that you can be stopped and cited for that infraction alone. I love it and think it ought to be Law across the world. Certainly in USA.
ReplyDeleteLong time lurker :)
ReplyDeleteAt my old job we dealt with parents like that a lot...although instead of smoking + asthma the main issue was not brushing your kid's teeth + tooth decay. Best excuse I've heard thus far was "I do brush his teeth, but the toothbrush was broken." Ummm...no.
Word.
ReplyDeletePeds nurse here.. I think I probably see patients like this weekly. Ridiculous.
I wish we had that Law in Georgia.
ReplyDeleteLast week, while at a traffic light, I glanced in the rear view mirror to be horrified. The car behind me held what appeared to be a mother, grandmother and a toddler in a child seat. First I noticed that the child seat was in the middle of the back seat behind bucket seats. Then I noticed that both mom and grandma had ciggies hanging from their mouths. Then I realized that the windows were closed. Ugh!
smoker here-
ReplyDeletenot proud of it, but it's true. however, no matter how cold it gets, i sit outside to smoke-- not in the basement or garage, where it snakes its way in, but on the porch. and i NEVER smoke when my son is in the car.
my five year old had some symptoms asthma as a toddler, but he has only needed his inhaler during one brief period this year. his health is worth FAR MORE than my addiction.
peace!
Thank you. I suffered asthma as a child and it didn't slow my parent's smoking down one bit, even though my doc told them point blank that their smoking was the probable cause of my attacks.
ReplyDeleteAfter I moved out of the house, I've only had one attack and that was years ago. At least my mother has gotten over my not letting her smoke in MY house.
Liz, a lot of research now shows that even "third hand smoke" is really harmful to kids that show signs of asthma. That's considered the smoke/chemicals/posions that are on your clothes, hair etc from smoking. THought to cause increased respiratory infections/issues and ear infections. Just something to consider.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I had a good friend growing up who seemed to have one continuous case of bronchitis for the 8 years I knew her...and, yep, her dad couldn't be bothered to move from his recliner to smoke on the porch or in the (detached) garage. I always felt bad for her that she had basically no ability to do any sort of physical activity at all for her entire childhood.
ReplyDeleteGreat no smoking in car rules here in Canada, I am surprised it's not more widespread.
ReplyDeleteSmoking with anyone under the age of 16 present in a vehicle is currently banned in the Provinces of British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador (starting 31st May 2011), Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan and Yukon Territory.[9][10][11][12] Smoking is banned in vehicles with persons under the age of 19 present in Nova Scotia.[13]
I have developed severe allergies and asthma (in addition to three other diseases I'm dealing with) as a result of my parent's heavy smoking. The first question both my allergist and my pulmonologist asked me was "You're a heavy smoker, yes?" and when I told them I've never smoked a day in my life, their immediate response was "Your parents smoked". Yup. 4 packs/day for dad, 3 packs a day for mom. Parents should think about this when smoking around their kids.
ReplyDeleteAllieRN is right; even third hand smoke makes me cough and wheeze.
i love the ones that come in with COPD exacerbation and want to go out and smoke before we send them to the unit.
ReplyDeleteI'm in Nursing school. I'm still a pretty moderate asthmatic in the Miami Valley (which is notoriously bad for asthmatics). I grew up with two heavily smoking parents. THAT kid who always straight STANK (the only word that can describe it) of smoke. I was so sick that the doctors didn't expect me to make it. My parents bought my burial plot and stuff instead of simply smoking outside. Now I'm in constant battle with them whenever my son is around for them to not smoke. My Dad was hospitalized a few years ago with asthma exacerbation, and spent the majority of his time smoking in the bathroom and blowing up the extractor fan. I tried to tell him the nurses can smell it and he insisted they couldn't. It's not enough for them to have ruined my lungs for life, but they keep trying to smoke around my son too. I just don't get people. I think this should be considered a form of child abuse. It really does affect the kid's for the rest of their lives.
ReplyDeleteThis post just makes me sad...
ReplyDeleteThis is maddening and frustrating. People can be so damn selfish. I've had a new mom ask me to finish feeding her baby (mid-feed) so she can go down stairs to smoke. You know that if she were at home she would have just lit up while she fed.
ReplyDeleteI can remember feeding my baby while smoking a cigarette. In those days (many many years ago) it wasn't frowned upon. All maternity wards had smoking rooms where you could take your babies. Of my 3 children, only 1 smoked. We have all since quit (6 years for us, 3 for child). I also remember a joke from that era told to smoking expectant mothers: Careful, your baby will be born with a butt at the end of it's spine!
ReplyDelete