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Dingwall Pupils fall ill after drinking vaping fluid | Dingwall Pupils fall ill after drinking vaping fluid |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Pupils at a school in Highlands became seriously ill after drinking vaping fluid contained within electronic cigarettes. | Pupils at a school in Highlands became seriously ill after drinking vaping fluid contained within electronic cigarettes. |
Dingwall Academy has sent letters home with its students warning that the liquid is "highly toxic and can be fatal". | Dingwall Academy has sent letters home with its students warning that the liquid is "highly toxic and can be fatal". |
NHS Highland has issued a wider warning about the potential risks of the behaviour. | NHS Highland has issued a wider warning about the potential risks of the behaviour. |
Signs someone has drunk the fluid include vomiting and dizziness. | Signs someone has drunk the fluid include vomiting and dizziness. |
Highland Council said letters went out to pupils' parents and carers on Friday. | Highland Council said letters went out to pupils' parents and carers on Friday. |
A spokeswoman said: "We have had to deal with a small number of incidents over the last couple of days where pupils have become seriously ill in school. | A spokeswoman said: "We have had to deal with a small number of incidents over the last couple of days where pupils have become seriously ill in school. |
"We believe that the illnesses may have been caused by individuals drinking vaping fluid, which is highly dangerous. | "We believe that the illnesses may have been caused by individuals drinking vaping fluid, which is highly dangerous. |
"We have spoken to pupils at assemblies and have sought further advice from the police and NHS Highland." | "We have spoken to pupils at assemblies and have sought further advice from the police and NHS Highland." |
'Highly toxic' | 'Highly toxic' |
Dr Jenny Wares, consultant in health protection at NHS Highland, said the health board was alerted to a small number of young people having become "seriously unwell after ingesting the fluid within electronic cigarettes". | Dr Jenny Wares, consultant in health protection at NHS Highland, said the health board was alerted to a small number of young people having become "seriously unwell after ingesting the fluid within electronic cigarettes". |
She said: "When ingested, the contents of the fluid are highly toxic and can be fatal. | She said: "When ingested, the contents of the fluid are highly toxic and can be fatal. |
"The main risk of toxicity is from the nicotine content although there is a risk of toxicity from other ingredients within the fluid. | "The main risk of toxicity is from the nicotine content although there is a risk of toxicity from other ingredients within the fluid. |
"If you have any concerns that an individual has ingested fluid from an electronic cigarette please seek immediate medical attention by calling 999 and don't leave the person alone." | "If you have any concerns that an individual has ingested fluid from an electronic cigarette please seek immediate medical attention by calling 999 and don't leave the person alone." |
Dr Wares said there were a wide range of possible symptoms including nausea and vomiting, confusion, agitation and headaches, dizziness, excessive sweating, breathing difficulties, altered heart rate and possible fitting. | Dr Wares said there were a wide range of possible symptoms including nausea and vomiting, confusion, agitation and headaches, dizziness, excessive sweating, breathing difficulties, altered heart rate and possible fitting. |
She added: "Given the seriousness of this situation please ensure this information is shared with your children, young people and their friends." | She added: "Given the seriousness of this situation please ensure this information is shared with your children, young people and their friends." |
Kate Forbes, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch and a former pupil at Dingwall Academy, said the school's rector and staff had acted promptly to alert pupils to the "dangerous consequences" of drinking vaping fluid. |
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