With alarms bells ringing over a sudden surge in vaping related illnesses and deaths, an increasing number of American high schools are turning to vape detectors to snuff out bathroom smokers.
As originally reported by CNN, these vape detectors, which often resemble carbon monoxide detectors, can be placed in areas where students are likely to sneak off to vape, such as bathrooms and closets. These are different from traditional cigarette smoke detectors, which often fail to detect vape smoke.
How does it work?
In a promotional video, one of the leading vape detector companies, Soter Technologies, claims its devices are capable of detecting, "vaping, smoke, and noise disturbances that may suggest violence."
When the vape detector is triggered, an alert is immediately sent via text message or email to school officials, with the geolocation of the room where the detector was set off. The app will also send longer-term data to school officials on where students have been vaping the most so that they can deal with vaping "hotspots."
While vape detectors have been around for several years, they were often seen as unnecessary additions. That mindset is changing due to the sheer amount of student vaping today.
According to the US Federal Drug Administration, over 20% of teenagers reported using a vape or an e-cigarette in 2018 - a 78% increase from 2017. Health concerns, especially regarding younger children, prompted the Trump administration to recently announce its plan to introduce a ban on all flavoured vaping products.
Source: BusinessInsider
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