PARENTS must “be vigilant” about their kids using vapes, police have urged.
The stark warning came after two school-aged children suffered terrifying consequences from puffing on e-cigarettes.
GettyTwo schoolchildren experienced heart palpitations and one lost consciousness after puffing on contaminated vapes[/caption]
One of them fell unconscious while both experienced horrifying heart palpitations and dizziness.
Cops believe the vapes were contaminated.
The incidents at two schools in Chorley and West Lancashire weren’t related and are being investigated by Lancashire Police.
A statement from the force said: “We want to get the message out to parents to be vigilant.”
The pupils separately fell ill after using what are thought to be contaminated vapes, ITV News reported.
Both felt dizzy and experienced heart palpitations, meaning their heartbeat stared pounding, racing or fluttering.
One of the two children even lost consciousness for a period of time.
Lancashire Police said: “We are treating these as isolated incidents and investigations are ongoing regarding the circumstances.”
It comes after five teens aged 14 to 16 were rushed to hospital in Eltham, south east London, after puffing on a vape laced with the drug Spice.
One of the youngsters was put into an induced coma after the group suffered a reduced level of consciousness, vomiting and confusion.
It’s not the first report of teens using so-called ‘zombie’ vapes at school.
Two young people were taken ill after using a Spice-laced device in Merton, south west London.
The lab-made drug Spice was designed to mimic the effects of cannabis, but instead cause dizziness, breathing difficulties, chest pain, heart palpitations, seizures, and even temporary paralysis.
It has also been linked to paranoia, suicidal thoughts, psychosis and acute kidney injuries.
‘Real health issue for young people’
The government last month announced measures to ban disposable vapes in the UK to prevent children from becoming addicted to them.
These are vapes that don’t need setting up, refilling, or recharging.
They often come in sweet and fruity flavours, which appeal to youngsters.
Measures will also be introduced to prevent e-cigarettes from being marketed to kids and to target underage sales.
The legal age to buy a vape in the UK is 18, the same as smoking.
But Safer Neighbourhoods Inspector, Jon Cisco, told ITV News that this isn’t always enforced.
“We know that in some cases irresponsible retailers have failed to uphold this rule, selling vapes and vape products to children,” he said.
“Not only is this illegal but it also presents a real health issue to young people who could become very unwell by these unregulated products.
“We are working closely with our partners and local schools to share intelligence and I would urge anyone with information about those supplying these vapes and vape products, like liquids, to tell us about it so that we can work to get them off the streets and out of the hands of our young people.”
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