As a parent, you know the effects that secondhand tobacco smoke can have on your kids and family members: asthma, allergies, or lung damage. While you might assume that e-cigarettes are safer than regular cigarettes, these devices still pose potential risks for children.
How E-cigarettes Work
The manufacturers of electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, frequently market their devices to people who want to stop smoking or reduce the number of cigarettes they go through every day. E-cigarettes use vapor to supply the body with the nicotine that it craves, and some manufacturers boast that the electronic devices are much safer than traditional cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes contain a battery and a small reservoir for liquid. When you push a button on the device, it heats the liquid inside and produces vapor, which is then inhaled. The manufacturers of electronic cigarettes make a number of different flavored liquids, including those with nicotine added to the formula and those that are nicotine-free.
Potential Illness
The American Association of Poison Control Centers issued a statement in March of 2014 that warned parents against using and keeping electronic cigarettes around children. According to the organization, children who inhale the water vapor can suffer from a number of potential symptoms that include vomiting and nausea. The warning came after the AAPCC did research and found that some children who inhaled the vapor landed in the hospital. The AAPCC recommends that parents get in touch with a poison control center if their children use the devices. Recent media coverage of electronic cigarettes has also revealed the dangers of leaving liquid cartridges around children, who can be exposed to dangerous levels of nicotine if they ingest or spill the solution on their skin.
Dangers for Teens
Teens who start using e-cigarettes can develop an addiction to traditional cigarettes. Parents should know that exposure to these devices can cause youth to experiment with other forms of nicotine and tobacco. Keeping your electronic cigarettes away from your teen can help you combat the growing problem of addiction among younger people, but it's also important to discuss resisting peer pressure. The pitfalls of teen e-cigarette use include the variety appealing vapor flavors that including chocolate, vanilla, and bubble gum. Additionally, many states do not require vendors to request proof of ID before selling an electronic cigarette.
