North Carolina Schools Add Vaping to “No Smoking” Signs

On August 21, according to foreign media reports, public schools in North Carolina added an image of an e-cigarette to their “No Smoking” signs. Local media reported that all public schools in the state are required to post a sign indicating that they are smoke-free zones, and this year an additional sign was added to prohibit the use of vaping devices.

Tiffany Thigpen, a coordinator with the Pitt County Health Department, said the state received the updated signs with the added symbol before the new school term began.
 
In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigated 94 cases of severe lung illness that may be linked to vaping devices, reported by 14 states this summer.

Pitt County Public Health Director John Silvernail pointed out that three of those cases were reported in North Carolina.

An e-cigarette is an electronic product that imitates a conventional cigarette, with a similar appearance, vapor, taste, and sensation. Through atomization and other methods, it turns nicotine and other substances into vapor for users to inhale. The World Health Organization has conducted dedicated research on e-cigarettes and reached a clear conclusion: e-cigarettes are harmful to public health and are not a smoking cessation tool. Regulation must be strengthened to prevent harm to young people and non-smokers.