First responders need to know about the harmful effects of vaping

Gordon Graham from Lexipol here with Today’s Tip. And this is for all of our public safety friends and those we care about.

I’m talking about E-Cigarettes or the practice of vaping. You might be interested to know that the modern electronic cigarette was developed in 2003 by a well-meaning Chinese pharmacist named Hon Lik. He was looking for a tool to help people quit smoking. The original device was called Ruyan, which means “like smoke”.

We know that vaping has become very popular among our young people. The American Lung Association estimates that 20% of all young people use electronic cigarettes. There is growing evidence that vaping is just as harmful to the lungs as smoking tobacco products, but for different reasons.

The idea behind vaping is to extract nicotine from tobacco and mix it with propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin. Flavors, colors and other chemical additives complete the concoction. Evidence indicates that the more ingredients users inhale, the greater the risk of serious lung damage. It is safe to say that none of this belongs to your lungs.

Lung disorder caused by vaping is now known as EVALI or lung injury associated with the use of e-cigarettes or vaping products.

Research on harmful effects of vaping continues, but the damaging results speak for themselves. The United States Centers for Disease Control recently reported a total of 2,711 hospitalized EVALI cases. To date, 60 vaping-related deaths have been confirmed.

One of the most harmful substances in traditional cigarettes is nicotine. Electronic cigarettes contain, you guessed it, nicotine.

Let’s be clear. Vaping is not without risk. Electronic cigarettes are not a safe substitute for commercial tobacco products and will not help you quit smoking. You are simply replacing one health risk with another. There is no proof that vaping products are safe. None of the vaping products currently available are FDA approved as a smoking cessation aid.

The bottom line is that electronic cigarettes will not help you quit smoking or lessen the risks associated with traditional tobacco cigarettes. Your health and fitness matter. Take care. This is today’s advice from Lexipol. Gordon Graham signs the signature.