A viral photo of a 6-year-old from Laoag City shows a 6-year-old boy and one of his playmates just casually using an e-cigarette.
He found the children sharing the e-cigarette
The photo was taken by JC Tabios III, a tourist aide from Laoag City. Tabios shared that he was working outside La Tabacalera, when he saw both of the children sharing an e-cigarette.
Shocked at what he saw, he went and talked to the children to ask where they got the e-cigarette. The children said that they bought it at a nearby store for 200 pesos.
He took a photo of the children, as well as a video of his conversation and then uploaded it to Facebook.
The local government was shocked about the news
City Social Welfare and Development officer Mary Joan Pasigui shares that she was so shocked and alarmed when she saw the photo. She says that according to the law, minors are prohibited from purchasing tobacco or tobacco related products. Anyone caught selling tobacco products to a minor will be subjected to a 5000 peso fine, and up to one month jail time.
She adds that parents should always keep an eye on their children and to always guide them in order to steer them clear of bad habits that are harmful to their health.
The child’s father shares, “Iyong nagtitinda, alam niyang bata, minor, ang bebentahan niya. Dahil lang naman ata gusto niyang makabenta, kaya binentahan na lang niya.”
Hopefully, parents will be more vigilant about their children in the future.
Go to the next page to learn more about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes on children.
What harmful effects do e-cigarettes have on children?
Photo from: wikimedia commons
A lot of people are saying that e-cigarettes or e-cigs are healthier alternatives to smoking. While some medical professionals would agree that using e-cigs is indeed safer compared to traditional smoking, there’s no question that smoking e-cigarettes still do pose a threat to your health.
Children are especially vulnerable since their bodies are still developing, and their lungs are not strong enough to handle e-cigarette smoke. This is why it’s important to keep children away from e-cigarettes and regular cigarettes as much as possible.
For the most part, e-cigarettes can contain nicotine, an addictive substance that can be toxic in high doses, and was even used as an insecticide.
Additionally, scientists are still not aware of the long-term effects of using e-cigs or vaping. This is why it can be very dangerous for children as it might give them a lot of health problems later on.
This is why even if some medical professionals say that vaping is safer than smoking, the best way would still be to just quit it entirely, as even if you’re just vaping, your children might see it as acceptable behavior, and start vaping or smoking themselves.
Source: kickerdaily.com, news.abs-cbn.com, kidshealth.org
READ: Exploding e-cigarette injures 14-year-old girl in Hogwarts ride
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