Stafford County High Schools Are Cracking Down on School Vaping With FlySense Detectors
Two high schools in Stafford County, Virginia, have implemented FlySense vape detectors to crack down on students vaping in school. Vape detectors are placed in bathrooms or locker rooms, where they detect vape smoke and send alerts to school administrators or security, who can then confront the student offender.
Vaping has become a growing concern among students, with one school board’s student representative sharing survey results in which vaping emerged as the number one concern. Vape detectors have shown positive results in many school districts after several months of use.
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Schools Turn To Vape Detectors as a Solution to Rampant On-Campus Vaping
Vape detectors installed at Stafford County high schoolshttps://t.co/BzSsQnfyGF
— Chris Abraham (@chrisabraham) March 11, 2023
According to Derek Peterson, the CEO of a company that makes vaping detectors, schools typically see an 85% to 90% reduction in vaping on campus after implementing these devices.
The first day the detectors were activated in Stafford County, Virginia, there were five vape seizures, and one student at Colonial Forge High School was charged with a misdemeanor for having a vape pen with THC.
As a result, most students who are caught will face suspensions. Stafford schools see this as a trial period to determine whether the detectors help to curb vaping.
“That’s the hope, that it would be a deterrent to the behavior,” said James Stemple, the Executive Director of Constituent Services. One benefit of the detectors is highlighting the vaping problem’s extent. However, the challenge now is keeping up with the numerous alerts they receive.
SEE IT: Two Stafford County high schools installed vape detecting devices to crack down on students vaping in school. https://t.co/iulWLWbwLa pic.twitter.com/xjAFbJGtws
— NBC4 Washington (@nbcwashington) March 11, 2023
Headteacher Matthew Carpenter Claims Vape Detectors Have Reduced Number of Students Vaping
Baxter College in Kidderminster has installed CCTV and vape sensors in its toilet blocks to tackle the use of e-cigarettes by students. The school spent £4,000 on the technology after a group of students admitted addiction to vaping. The sensors have helped to accurately detect when and where vaping is taking place, enabling the school to reduce the activity and its impact on students and the school environment. The school saw an increase in the number of students asking to use the toilet during lessons, which prompted the installation of CCTV outside and sensors inside the toilet blocks.
We are so pleased that we helped Matthew Carpenter @BaxterCollege in Kidderminster manage the issues he had with vaping among his students. We installed Halo Smart Sensor that detect #vaping and #aggressive behaviour. Here he is @bbc5live talking to @rachelburden about them. https://t.co/YmKfq8J9mL
— Ecl-ips (@Eclipstweets) February 16, 2023
According to the school’s assistant principal, Matthew Carpenter, students who had not previously smoked have taken up e-cigarettes as a “lifestyle choice,” which he fears could lead them to smoke traditional cigarettes and become addicted to nicotine. The technology has already enabled him to confiscate numerous vapes amid concerns they have been sold illegally. Trading Standards has warned that one in three vaping products may not meet regulations monitoring nicotine limits.
The sale of e-cigarettes and e-liquids to minors is illegal. Following the installation of vape detection technology, a reduction in the number of vaping cases has been observed at a school. One student, who had quit vaping, expressed his support for the school’s strict measures and felt better for having decided to stop.
On the other hand, a student who started vaping at the age of 12 admitted to being addicted and unable to quit after trying it with a friend. According to another student, the urge to vape controls their thoughts and actions.
Can Vape Detectors in Schools Really Make a Difference in Preventing E-Cigarette Use?
Vape detectors have become popular in schools in recent years as a solution to the rising problem of students vaping on school grounds. These detectors are designed to monitor air quality and detect the presence of vape products. They can also be integrated with other security systems, such as cameras and access controls.
The combination of Milestone Systems, Boring Toolbox, and HALO smart sensors for vape detection in the education market has been touted as the most reliable and time-saving.
However, the effectiveness of these detectors in decreasing the prevalence of e-cigarette use in schools is unclear. While schools may find them useful as part of a larger strategy to address vaping, they should not rely solely on these devices.
