DAVAO CITY (November 5) — The Department of Health (DOH) has cautioned parents and guardians against the use of e-cigarettes and vapes especially among minors.
On its advisory, the Health department stressed, “These devices are not toys and they contain concomitant health and safety hazards which may lure teenagers to pick up the habit of smoking.”
Last October 30, a vaping device exploded while being used by a 17 year old male. The patient suffered from injuries to the lips, oral mucosa, palate and tongue. He also had burns and hematoma in the upper and lower eyelids.
E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that heat e-liquids to produce aerosols that users inhale, mimicking the act of smoking. Meanwhile, vaping devices or vapes are used to vaporize cannabis, tobacco and other herb blends for inhalation. They are battery-operated as well.
Health Secretary Francisco Doque III said vaping devices can cause severe burns and injuries that may require intensive or prolonged medical treatment. The public is also urged to be vigilant when buying consumer products online like e-cigarettes and vaping devices.
Investigation is ongoing with the help of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on the safety and health issues of these devices and their online selling.
“FDA regulates e-cigarettes as medical products because of its nicotine content and no device or e-liquids have been registered nor evaluated by the agency for safety, efficacy and quality,” Doque added. – Jiann Padillo/ NewsLine
