It’s no secret that nicotine-addicted teens often cut out of class to vape, especially in school washrooms. Now, a new technology is helping administrators catch them in the act: vape detectors in school.
The devices, which look like smoke detectors and don’t emit loud tones when they detect vapor chemicals, silently alert designated staff with a text message that identifies the location where the device was activated. The district will then use its electronic hall pass system to find out which students were using the restroom at that time, Zabawa said.
Protecting Our Students: Deploying Vape Detectors in Schools
Educators are encouraged to tell students that they have vape sensors in their bathrooms and locker rooms, and that any vaping will be detected. In fact, the sensors can act as a deterrent to teens, who may avoid entering a bathroom or locker room out of fear that they’ll be caught.
Some districts pair the sensors with surveillance cameras. When a sensor is activated, the cameras can preserve video from two minutes before it was triggered to five minutes after, which allows officials to identify any students who entered or left that room at that time.
While the sensors have had success in some schools, many districts report that students often find ways around them. Students have been reported to vape inside the toilet, into their sleeves, or to exhale into the sink. They also might vape in hallways, where the odor can travel. Some districts have found that the sensors aren’t effective if they’re not properly staffed to respond to alerts.
