BRUNSWICK, Ga. — Students in Glynn County won't be able to get away with vaping inside school bathrooms anymore as the school board is working on a plan to install vape detection systems throughout county schools.
E-cigarettes, or vapes are used by school-age children more than any other tobacco product, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Vaping or using e-cigarettes is already banned on Glynn County schools and buses, but officials say students are finding places to break the rules. Officials with the Glynn County School Board told First Coast News the move is about protecting student health and ensuring they follow the rules on school campuses.
"You need to go to a private place to do what you want, and the bathroom is the place. We started noticing and hearing that that was an issue so, that's why we're going to put detectors up where we can see and address the issues," said John Madala, a Glynn County School Board member.
In a unanimous vote, the Glynn School Board approved over $174,000 to buy vape detectors for use in school facilities.
Officials say the sensors will sound an alarm if they detect smoke from vapes, cigarettes or other substances.
Officials hope these detectors will stop use in schools, but they’re also asking parents to educate their students on the risks of vaping.
“It also increases your chance of having a heart attack, so there's just no good in it and we're certainly not going to allow it and we would appreciate if parents would do the same," Madala said.
As far as when these detectors will be put in place, officials say they want to get them in as soon as possible, hopefully during this upcoming school year.