E-cigarette environmental and fire/life safety risks in schools reported by secondary school teachers

• Published in: BMC public health Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 1215 - 8
• Main Authors: Fakeh Campbell, Maryanne L, Sansone, Andrew, Gonzalez, Lauren N, Schroth, Kevin R J, Shendell, Derek G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 08.08.2020; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adolescent; Alarm systems; Alarms; Cigarettes; Consumer protection; E-cigarettes; Egress; Electronic cigarettes; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems - statistics & numerical data; Environmental aspects; Explosions; Female; Fire prevention; Fires; Forecasts and trends; High school teachers; Humans; Identification; Injuries; Male; Middle school students; Middle schools; New Jersey - epidemiology; Occupational health; Occupational health and safety; Occupational safety; Polls & surveys; Protective Devices - statistics & numerical data; Public health; Questions; Risk-Taking; Safety; Safety and security measures; School health; School safety; School Teachers; Schools; Secondary school students; Secondary schools; Smoke; Smoke detectors; Smoking; Students; Students - statistics & numerical data; Surveys; Surveys and Questionnaires; Teachers; Teenagers; Tobacco; Vaping; Vaping - epidemiology; Vulnerable sub-populations; Youth smoking; New Jersey; United States > US; Occupational health and safety; Vaping; Vulnerable sub-populations; E-cigarettes; School health
• ISSN: 1471-2458; 1471-2458
• DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-09319-8

To identify if e-cigarette usage is an on-campus problem for secondary schools and evaluate initial school survey responses. More specifically, this survey can aid in identifying where students are seen using e-cigarettes, if smoke alarms have been newly inserted on school property, if smoke alarms have been tampered with to allow for vaping without detection; and, if any e-cigarette fires or explosions have occurred on school property. This survey, disseminated to New Jersey secondary school teachers across seven sessions January-July 2019, resulted in 104 complete responses of 109 respondents. The survey was conducted after fire prevention, exit/egress, and life safety portions of "OSHA 10 Plus for General Industry" courses. Survey questions included number of times teachers observed students vaping and location where vaping in last 12 months, fire alarm installation and tampering, and fires or explosions and injuries from vaping/e-cigarette devices. Many (63%) respondents reported very or moderately common rates of vaping within their schools; however, three of four questions regarding school fire and smoke alarm use specifically to detect vaping had a majority of unsure/I don't know responses. Results suggested concerns regarding student vaping and e-cigarette use inside and outside secondary schools. Improved school detection and response are warranted. Not applicable.