Children are being caught vaping at school up to 17-22 times per day, according to new data.
The shocking statistic by specialist vape detection device VapeGuardian is based on the average number of alerts set off when vape sensors are first installed on site.
VapeGuardian, which has started to be installed in schools up and down the country, has been designed by software engineer, Simon Hassett, 36, and is the first of its kind manufactured in the UK.
It can detect the smallest hint of vapour released from an e-cigarette and immediately sends an alert to a designated teacher to help schools tackle the accelerating problem.
Data extracted from the machine shows that when secondary schools first install vape sensors on site, alerts are activated on average 17-22 times per school per day.
The presence of sensors is shown to half reported incidents after the first week to an average of 8-11 alerts and these figures continue to decline consistently week after week.
Vaping is becoming an epidemic across UK schools according to leading health experts such as Dr Mike McKean, vice-president of policy for the Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health.
NHS figures for 2021 showed that 9% of 11- to 15-year-old children used e-cigarettes, up from 6% in 2018. Dr McKean recently said that if this growth continues, almost all children could be vaping within five years.
Hassett said: “This has been a problem for a while for teachers, but we were shocked when we saw the extent of just how much it is happening in schools up and down the country.”
The father of four, from Southampton, launched the product in October 2022 under his company SMF Systems, with a specific mission to reduce vaping among children as a direct response to the rapid rise of e-cigarette use in schools.
After employing a team of PHD students to find out the specific ingredients used within vapes, he was able to programme his innovative device to detect these ingredients in the vapour they release.
In just six months, he has already received over 170 orders from schools across the UK and Ireland. The device which covers a 3.7m-by-3.7m space with a 2.7m ceiling costs £219 plus VAT.
Anecdotal reports from teachers suggest that underage e-cigarette use is becoming increasingly common and schools are reporting growing concerns for the physical and mental health and safety of their students.
Teachers have complained of vaping making pupils anxious in lessons. One teacher in Salisbury told Hassett that pupils are even “pleading” to be able to vape in school as they need to get a fix.
“It is deeply concerning that young people are misunderstanding the contents of e-cigarette products,” said Hassett. “The average Elf Bar, which is the most popular disposable vape in the UK, contains 20 mg of nicotine. The presence of this highly addictive substance explains why so many pupils are finding it difficult to go through the day without vaping. We are unwittingly creating a new generation of nicotine addicts.”
“As a father I am deeply concerned about this rising trend, which is why I wanted to make it my mission to help tackle the problem. Our sensors detect the vapour once it has come out of someone’s lungs, and it’s extremely offensive. I have been particularly shocked by the amount of nicotine and microplastics in every puff.”
Studies have shown that disposable e-cigarettes are increasing in popularity, in part because they cost around £5 each and come in a wide range of colours and fruity flavours.
Hassett said: “We are fully committed to supporting schools across the UK, but it is clear more needs to be done to tackle the growing problem. Our customers have told us that by installing VapeGuardian in black spots across the school it is having a huge impact on reducing the number of incidents, but without tighter regulations that reduce the attractiveness of vaping, this popularity pandemic will continue to rise.
“We want to collaborate with the health and education sector to ensure regulations go further to protect children from taking up vaping in the first place, as well as explore better guidance to support schools in reducing the problem.”
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