The mission of Coordinated School Health is to connect physical, emotional and social health of the child to their academic success. Coordinated School Health (CSH) is composed of 8 inter-related components that support and advocate for the whole child. You can find out more about Loudon County CSH here.

Thank you Prevention Alliance of Loudon County!

This month, we are bringing awareness to the vaping epidemic.

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/index.htm

"E-cigarette use poses a significant – and avoidable – health risk to young people in the United States. Besides increasing the possibility of addiction and long-term harm to brain development and respiratory health, e-cigarette use is associated with the use of other tobacco products that can do even more damage to the body. Even breathing e-cigarette aerosol that someone else has exhaled poses potential health risks." You can read more at the Surgeon General web page: https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/knowtherisks.html

These videos will introduce the dangers and risks of vaping and smoking in a language you can use to talk to your kids.

STEP 3: Start a conversation with your child about the risks of vaping and smoking

Review the Surgeon General's recommendations and the Parent Tip Sheets included at https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/takeaction.html.

Your intention should be to start a conversation, not a lecture. It must be an on-going conversation, not a one-time affair.

There are seven signs that can tell you if a student is vaping, according to the University of Virginia Health System.

1. Increased thirst
2. Nosebleeds
3. Mouth sores and a persistent cough
4. Unfamiliar USB drives and battery chargers
5. Odd clothing choices and hands frequently near the face
6. Change in caffeine use
7. Unexplained sweet scents

SO what is the toll in Tennessee?

https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/problem/toll-us/tennessee

Tennessee YRBS Survey results

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/education/csh/2019YRBSResultsSlides.pdf

In a 2019 Tennessee Youth Behavior Risk survey:

50.6% of 9th- 12th graders reported having tried an electronic vapor product.

5.5% daily users

7.4% used 20 of the last 30 days

In 2017 11.5% were currently using.

In 2019 that number increased to 22.1% were currently using!

According to the CDC, in 2019

1 out of every 20 middle school students had vaped in the last 30 days

1 out of every 5 high school students had vaped in the last 30 days.

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/youth_data/tobacco_use/index.htm