By Tony O’Reilly-
Brits are being warned of the dangers of vaping, after a 12-year-old girl was placed in an induced coma.
Vaping has wreaked havoc on the young lungs of Sarah Griffin, highlighting the urgent need to raise awareness about its hidden dangers.
AD: Capeesh Restaurant
Vaping is generally perceived as the cool alternative to smoking cigarettes, making giving up easier for addicts , and having less health hazards attached to its habit.
However, the tragic story of Sarah Griffiths suggests otherwise.
Sarah’s terrifying journey began one evening as she prepared for bed. A persistent coughing fit overcame her, initially mistaken for an asthma symptom by her family. Throughout the night, she attempted to alleviate her symptoms with an inhaler and nebulizer, but her condition failed to improve.
AD: Oysterian Sea Food Restaurant And Bar
The next morning, her mother, Mary Griffin, left to drop off her other two children at school, thinking that Sarah had stabilized. However, as the day unfolded, Sarah’s breathing difficulties escalated, prompting a panicked call from her to her mother.
Sarah’s father raced her to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, where she was immediately directed to the resuscitation area. A nurse, checking her vitals, discovered that her oxygen levels had plummeted to dangerous lows.
“Sarah was just in a blind panic, she was terrified,” recalled her mother. “She was on oxygen and was linked up to all sorts of machines.”
Sarah’s condition deteriorated rapidly, requiring her to be transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU). After four and a half grueling hours, the medical team made the critical decision to place her in an induced coma.
The heart-wrenching journey didn’t end there. An X-ray of Sarah’s lungs unveiled a severe injury to one lung, accompanied by a dangerous infection. The other lung was forced into overdrive to compensate, exacerbating her asthma.
The Vaping Menace
Sarah’s case illuminates the often-underestimated perils of vaping, particularly among young people.
The insidious habit, often considered less harmful than traditional smoking, can have devastating consequences. Fidelma Carter, head of public health at Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke (NICHS), emphasizes that the biggest misconception about vapes is their perceived harmlessness compared to cigarettes. In reality, this is far from the truth, and the time has come for a reassessment of this misleading notion.
“The biggest misunderstanding about vapes is that they are harmless compared to cigarettes. This is not true, and this message needs to change to prevent more young people from taking up and getting addicted to vaping because they think they are risk-free. The long-term health implications are unknown – just as they once were with tobacco,” stated Carter.
Vaping has surged in popularity, particularly among teenagers, who often perceive it as a safe alternative to smoking. Sarah’s case stands as a poignant reminder that the full extent of the long-term health risks remains largely unknown.
After three days in a medically induced coma, Sarah was awakened, and the ventilator removed. However, the ordeal has left a lasting impact on her health. Sarah will now be categorized as a high-risk patient for the rest of her life, a stark contrast to her previous experience where her asthma was well-controlled.
Mary Griffin, Sarah’s mother, expressed the trauma their family endured and shared their story as part of NICHS’s new campaign. The campaign aims to shed light on the dangers of vaping, particularly among young people.
It’s a message that carries a sense of urgency, given the increasing number of teenagers who are taking up vaping without fully understanding the potential risks.
The family has shared their story as part of Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke’s new campaign to raise awareness of their concern about young vapers.
Fidelma Carter, head of public health at NICHS (Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke), said: ”The biggest misunderstanding about vapes is that they are harmless compared to cigarettes. This is not true, and this message needs to change to prevent more young people from taking up and getting addicted to vaping because they think they are risk free. The long-term health implications are unknown – just as they once were with tobacco”.
AD: Heritage And Restaurant Lounge Bar