Is vaping around kids harmful?
In this article...
Youth vaping is a hot topic at the moment, with 7% of underage users actively using an e-cig. However, all the focus seems to be on kids using devices. We know this isn’t what they’re made for; e-cigarettes are designed to help adult smokers quit or switch to a safer alternative. But is it safe to vape around children? Let’s find out.
Vaping around children
What’s in vapour?
E-liquid contains four main components: Vegetable Glycerine (VG), Propylene Glycol (PG), flavourings, and nicotine.
There have been false claims by some the media and non-UK sources that e-liquids also contain harmful additives such as heavy metals. It is important to note that any devices that contain harmful substances are illegal. The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations (TRPR) regulate vape products in the UK and ensure that only registered e-liquids with safe components are allowed.
Health risks
Unlike the negative effects of second-hand smoke, there is currently no evidence to suggest that exposure to clouds is harmful. E-cigarette vapour doesn't contain the thousands of harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke. The potential risks to bystanders from exposure is very minimal, with the most probable side effect being throat irritation.
People with respiratory conditions like asthma can be sensitive to environmental irritants such as vapour, pollen, and cold air. We advise making adjustments where appropriate.
Making sure that you create a smoke free environment and protecting your baby from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke is the most important thing. If you use e-cigarettes indoors, it keeps you off tobacco, which is a much safer alternative than allowing cigarette use. However, newborns and young children may need extra care as their lungs are still developing.
The best practice is to vape in another room and avoid enclosed spaces such as in a car.
Copying adults
As the old saying goes, ‘monkey see, monkey do’. Children tend to observe and imitate grown ups, so if they witness vaping, they might be tempted to experiment with e-cigarettes or blow clouds to copy grown-ups. To avoid such risks, it’s important to keep your vaping devices and liquids out of reach.
Fire risk
In England, approximately 2,700 fires annually are caused by smoking, leading to almost 82 deaths. While poorly made or fake vape chargers have been responsible for some house fires, the number is smaller than cigarettes.
It’s important to purchase devices from trusted sources, use the appropriate charger for the device, and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. It’s also important to never leave an e-cigarette charging unsupervised overnight. Just like other rechargeable electronics such as phones and laptops, e-cigarettes should not be charged or used if they have been damaged as this can pose a chemical and fire hazard.
Keep your e-liquid out of reach
Young children, especially babies and toddlers, tend to explore the environment by putting stuff in their mouth. It is important to be aware of the danger posed by vape juice, which can cause poisoning. Similar to medicines and cleaning products, e-cigarettes and liquids must be stored in a secure location that is out of reach of children. In case of ingestion, symptoms are typically mild, such as nausea and vomiting. If this does happen, consult your GP or call 111.
If your young ones do get hold of your e-liquid bottles, they should be fitted with child-safe caps that help to prevent them from actually taking off the top. This is part of the TRPR.
Switching to a less powerful device
One way to reduce the amount of vapour you exhale is to switch to a smaller MTL device. The less cloud is produced, the quicker it will disperse into the air. Thanks to the high resistance coil, they produce very little cloud.
MTL kit examples
VLTZ Flex Pro Box Refillable Bundle
| Battery | 1000mAh |
| Flavours | 30 |
| Price | £11.99 |
Joyetech eGo AIO 2
| Battery | 1700mAh |
| Resistance | 0.8ohm |
| Price | £26.99 |
TECC D20
| Battery | 1500mAh |
| Resistance | 1.2ohm |
| Price | £22.99 |
In summary – what can we do to reduce the risk to children?
There are several things you can do to minimise the risk of vaping around children:
- Try to vape outside where possible. If it’s not, then try to vape in a separate room.
- Keep vaping supplies out of reach of children.
- Don’t leave your kit charging overnight or unattended to reduce the risk of accidental fires.
- Switch to a low-power MTL device.
