Vape warning after pupils at two schools rushed to hospital

Vape warning to parents after pupils at two schools in the same town are rushed to hospital after using e-cigs

• The schools fear the contents of the products were not what they seemed 
• It comes as the Prime Minister hints at banning ‘predatory’ marketing tools 

Headteachers have issued a warning to parents after pupils at two schools in the same historic country town had to be rushed to hospital after vaping, following symptoms such as heart palpitations, loss of consciousness and fitting.

Students have suffered from accelerated heart rates, confusion, and, in one case, fitting and loss of consciousness after using e-cigarettes, the heads said.

The pupils involved are all believed to have been using vapes with questionable contents, the schools added.

Such is the level of concern that the head teachers of The Mountbatten School and The Romsey School in Romsey, Hampshire, have issued a desperate plea to parents amid growing concern about the use of vapes among young children.

Just last month a brand new vape shop opened in Romsey, taking the total to three for the town’s 20,000-strong population. 

Students at the two schools have suffered from accelerated heart rates, confusion, and, in one case, fitting and loss of consciousness after using e-cigarettes, the heads said

The schools said: ‘It is suspected that the contents of these vapes were not what they appeared to be, and this is currently being investigated’

Between them the academy schools – both rated good by Ofsted – educate 2,500 pupils aged between 11 and 16.

The email to parents – dated May 26 – was signed by headteachers Andrew Portas and Annie Eagle.

It said: ‘Our town’s two secondary schools have been working closely with our partner agencies over the past few weeks investigating the current challenges around the safety of young people within the Romsey locality.

‘Therefore, we are writing to inform you of the real issues that are now prevalent within our local community.’

One of these issues, the teachers warn, is vaping.

‘In the last two weeks, there have been a small number of cases of students from both our communities requiring hospital treatment after using vapes,’ the email states.

‘It is suspected that the contents of these vapes were not what they appeared to be, and this is currently being investigated.

‘Students who have been affected by this have presented with accelerated heart rates far exceeding normal levels, confusion, and, in one case, fitting and loss of consciousness.’

The email also warns about incidents of ‘significant’ anti-social behaviour in the local area involving groups of up to 50 young people and urges parents to not let their children ‘hang out without purpose’.

‘Parents and carers are of course the key players in safeguarding their children,’ the email concludes.

THe letter was sent to all parents of children at The Mountbatten and The Romsey schools

‘We continue to work together to balance providing sufficient freedoms to Romsey’s young people so they grow into responsible citizens, whilst also maintaining an appropriate level of parental control and safety.

‘This balance is of course challenging and therefore we must work together.’

Police have attended a number of incidents involving young people in Romsey which have led to an increase in patrols.

A statement shared by the local Test Valley police said: ‘We are very aware of an ongoing issue of anti-social behaviour and public disorder in and around Romsey.

‘We would like to reassure you all that we are doing everything we can to tackle this issue.’

It adds: ‘We know some residents may not feel the same level of enthusiasm we have with how we are dealing with this issue, however, we just want you to know that we are listening and doing everything we can to make streets safer in Romsey.’

The Mountbatten School was founded in 1969 by the Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin, Lord Mountbatten, and is close to the historic Broadlands estate.

Former pupils include TV gardener Charlie Dimmock and Downton Abbey actress Laura Carmichael.

Rishi Sunak has hinted he will ban predatory marketing tactics blamed for surging e-cig usage rates among Britain’s children

The nearby Romsey School’s alumni includes Conservative MP Caroline Noakes.

Concerns are growing over the use of vapes among young people. There are calls for the government to step in to ban popular fruit flavours.

Rishi Sunak has hinted he will ban predatory marketing tactics blamed for surging e-cig usage rates among Britain’s children.

The Prime Minister claimed the marketing of vapes to youngsters through cartoon characters, fruity flavours and bright colours is ‘completely unacceptable’.

Ministers have also pledged to close a loophole allowing retailers to give free vape samples to children in England — which vape industry heads themselves have said ‘no self-respecting business should ever have considered exploiting’.

The threat of tougher action comes days after the PM expressed concern about his own daughters potentially being ‘seduced’ by e-cigarettes.

Shock data earlier this month revealed the number of kids who’ve tried vaping has jumped 50 per cent in a year, prompting experts to warn Britain is ‘sleepwalking into an existential crisis for children’.

Hampshire Police have been contacted for comment. 

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