Trending
The Hollidaysburg Area School District and Lung Disease Foundation of Central PA have launched a pilot program to combat vaping in schools.
The district will install 20 vape sensors in bathrooms of the district's junior high and high school buildings. The sensors are partially funded through a $10,000 grant from the Ronald McDonald House Charities to the Lung Disease Foundation. The Foundation funded the remaining $5,000.
Sherri Stayer, executive director of the foundation, said the project's idea came about several years ago after the district contacted the organization about the growing vaping problem. She said the foundation began looking into grants as a way to help.
Hollidaysburg Superintendent Dr. Robert Gildea said vaping has been an issue in the district for a few years. A release by the district said there were 56 disciplinary incidents involving vaping at the junior high and high schools in the 2018-19 school year.
Results from a fall 2019 Pennsylvania Youth Survey indicated that more than one-third of Hollidaysburg seniors had used vaping devices or e-cigarettes within the past 30 days.
"Most people I know, you wouldn't think they vape, but they do," said Student Council President Elizabeth Sheehan. She said some students resort to vaping in school bathrooms because of their addiction.
The problems associated with vaping are very similar to those associated with smoking, Stayer said.
Lung Disease Foundation of Central PA founder Dr. George Zlupko said research shows that second-hand vape smoke is more dangerous than cigarette smoke. He said that "stealth vaping" has also become an issue; when the vape doesn't release smoke, but still releases chemicals into the atmosphere.
The sensors will still be set off by those chemicals, Stayer said. The chemicals will trigger an alarm monitored by someone nearby in the building. She said the sensors also will catch loud noises like a fight or bullying incident.
The foundation hopes to fund the program in other area school districts, Stayer said.