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East Tennessee schools fight vaping amid health concerns nationwide

The Knox County Health Department and the Tennessee Department of Health recently confirmed a respiratory illness associated with vaping.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Schools in East Tennessee are fighting vaping and e-cigarettes after health officials warn about potential risks. 

Knox, Anderson, Blount County and Maryville City Schools said all of those districts said that the use of tobacco products is not allowed, including vapes and e-cigarettes.

Students who violate policies face a range of consequences, including in-school and out-of-school suspension, a citation from the school resource officer or expulsion. 

On the first offense, students at Anderson County Schools can attend a class called "Kick It," aimed at helping students quit smoking.

The districts also said staff has undergone training to spot vapes or e-cigarettes. However, that training varied district to district.

Maryville City Schools said staff at the junior high and high school level received that training. 

Anderson County Schools told 10News they train staff to identify JUULs especially.

The Knox County Health Department and the Tennessee Department of Health recently confirmed a respiratory illness associated with vaping or e-cigarette use.

The patient is expected to recover, KCHD said. 

RELATED: East Tennessee teen hospitalized for vape-related illness

RELATED: Tennessee Dept. of Health asks providers to report vaping-associated respiratory illnesses

The county health department is working with the Tennessee Department of Health to identify a cause of the illness. 

“Given the activity in the rest of the U.S., we’ve been expecting a case and believe more are likely,” KCHD Senior Director Dr. Martha Buchanan said in the release. “It is still early in the investigation, but it’s important for the public to be aware of the symptoms and the potential link with e-cigarettes.”

Buchanan told 10News that about 30% of high school students in Knox County said they vaped.

Credit: EVA HAMBACH/AFP/Getty
An illustration shows a man exhaling smoke from an electronic cigarette in Washington, DC on October 2, 2018.

The CDC is investigating cases of severe pulmonary diseases in people who use vapes or e-cigarrettes. 193 cases have been reported in 22 different states, not including Tennessee. Many of those cases are from teens and young adults. 

RELATED: CDC investigating cases of lung disease possibly linked to vaping

Symptoms associated with a potentially vaping-related illness include cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, fever, chest pain, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. 

The Tennessee Department of Health is asking health care providers to report possible cases of serious respiratory illnesses among patients who use e-cigarettes or vaping devices.  

RELATED: Vaping-associated illness confirmed in Knox County, health department says

RELATED: Illinois patient's death may be first in US tied to vaping

RELATED: "I've never been that sick before": Woman warns of vaping after hospitalization

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