Many students go out of their way to study for tests and focus in class in order to succeed during the school day. School is designed as a place for students to expand their education, while some students decide to spend their time in school bathrooms vaping. Schools have taken an innovative approach as to how to combat this by installing an old fire alarm system that detects smoke, and they are vape detectors.

From what first started with teachers and staff catching students vaping or smoking in the bathroom at random times has now turned into schools adopting new, advanced technology. The alarms have a built-in laser sensor that knows specific chemicals in the air. Whenever a student vapes, the pen’s particles scatter around the air and set the alarm off. The sound is nothing like a fire alarm or a school bell because it doesn’t even make any sound. It acts as a silent alarm and alerts either the staff or authorities.

“I believe they [vape alarms] are very effective based on the data I have collected.” – Mr. Ray, dean of students

In relation to students being caught by the silent alarm, San Diego Union-Tribune’s article on detectors alerting school officials to vaping students states that “Gillingham (Listy) estimated that about 10 students were caught vaping each month before the school got the sensors.” Though no further information was provided about how many students were caught with the alarms installed. When or if they are installed, students most likely have a better chance of being caught than teachers and staff doing it themselves, which makes it very effective.

Vape does many things to harm the human body. It might cause disease or infection and really mess with the body’s organs such as the lungs. For students, that’s not the only case. It has the same effects for anyone, but in class, it can act as a distraction for learning. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s article on the risks of E-cigarettes for teens states “Using nicotine in adolescence can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control.”

Even though technology has its problems at some times, it is still pretty effective. When it comes to the safety of students, these detectors need to keep a safe environment in place.