ACMH Cardiopulmonary Supervisor Erin Erb and ACMH Outreach Marketing Coordinator Kathy Guth (right) came to last night’s free seminar at the Kittanning Library, armed with pamphlets and a computerized presentation, on the health concerns with vaping.
The message is clear! E-cigarettes and vaping is dangerous to your health!
ACMH Hospital is taking that message through a series of educational seminars hosted by community groups.
Kathy Guth, ACMH Outreach Marketing Coordinator, said the message is for everyone, but especially elementary and junior high students.
“We are out into the community because we want to get the information out there to let individuals know about the possible dangers of vaping, especially for teens and tweens,” she said. “We know that adults have their own minds that they can choose whether they want to vape or not, but we want to present the possible dangers that are possibly involved with vaping.”
ACMH isn’t the only one delivering a tough message. The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued an alert for laborers working with Diacetyl, an ingredient commonly found in e-cigarettes. The American Lung Association said that vaping over time can cause inflammation to lung tissues, causing scarring that results in breathing difficulties. Flavored vaping products designed to entice the user contains Diacetyl.
ACMH Cardiopulmonary Supervisor Erin Erb said vaping is causing a teen epidemic, and the statistics are evident in Armstrong County.
“Absolutely (vaping is on the increase). It is projected right now that about 20% of high school and middle school students are vaping. And it’s projected to actually get to about 27% in 2019,” she said during last night’s presentation at the Kittanning Library.
The Armstrong School District became alerted to the problem as students hid vaping apparatuses in three-ring binders. The binders often set off metal detectors and have not been routinely searched in the past. However, school officials are examining security policies and are implementing new procedures.
Erb said ACMH Hospital has committed itself to educating the public about the dangers of vaping.
“It’s an entire hospital organization that’s championing this,” Erb said. “Our CEO, John Lewis, has given us this task to go out to the community to talk to community members and get the risks that are associated with vaping out there.”
Guth said seminars are scheduled in the Apollo-Ridge School District in February and in several other libraries in the county.
An ACMH event will be coming to a location near you.