About two weeks have passed since 16-year-old Midan Keller, a resident of Gedera, died after his lungs apparently collapsed due to the use of electronic cigarettes. And today (Tuesday) a 16-year-old boy was admitted to Kaplan Hospital in Rehovot with suspected EVALI (lung damage caused by smoking electronic cigarettes).
Kaplan Hospital reported that the boy arrived at the hospital suffering from respiratory failure, is hospitalized at this stage in moderate condition and is receiving supportive care. The boy testified that he smoked electronic cigarettes.
The Association for the War of Cancer wished the boy a speedy recovery and strengthened his family. They noted that "The vape has become a dangerous epidemic among children and youth in Israel that continues to claim victims. It is essential that parents are aware of the symptoms and damages. This is a dangerous and addictive product that creates physical and mental dependence and seriously harms health. Starting with coughing, vomiting, risk of asthma, high blood pressure, heart attacks, through damage to the respiratory system and lungs (evaporator disease called in English EVALI) leading to respiratory collapse. In addition, damage to the development of the brain in teenagers leading to attention problems, learning problems, emotional instability, depression, anxiety, and recently genetic changes related to the development of cancerous tumors in the oral cavity, in the lung area and in the bladder in the users were also discovered."
"We call on the members of the Knesset and the government to consider a complete ban on the import of disposable electronic cigarettes and flavored electronic cigarettes, similar to dozens of countries that have already managed to ban this, and also call on the Israel Police to conduct an investigation into the circumstances of the sale to minors. We are in a very difficult time and difficult times require decisive steps". specified
Australia will ban the import of electronic cigarettes
The Australian government is fighting the epidemic of e-cigarette smoking among teenagers and today announced a series of vigorous legal measures designed to curb the epidemic of e-cigarettes among teenagers.
The Australian Minister of Health noted that "Electronic cigarettes have been ‘sold’ to governments and communities around the world as a cessation aid for smokers. They were not ‘sold’ as a leisure product and especially not sold that way to our children. But this is what they have become: a product intended for our children, sold alongside popsicles and chocolate bars. E-cigarettes contain 200 toxic chemicals that should not enter the lungs, the same chemicals you’ll find in nail polish remover and herbicide. Just like they did with regular cigarettes at the time, tobacco companies took another addictive product, wrapped it in shiny packaging and added flavors to create a new generation of nicotine addicts. It must end."
Among the groundbreaking steps that the Australian government will take: a blanket ban on the import of electronic cigarettes without a prescription, a ban on the import of single-use electronic cigarettes, restrictions on flavors and the amount of nicotine, mandatory uniform packaging for vaping products.
Moshe Bar Haim, CEO"L from the Cancer Society responded: "We welcome the move and are confident that it will be approved and accepted. This is an essential step that is also appropriate for Israel, in light of the epidemic in the country of teenagers and children using electronic cigarettes and obtaining the product as easily as a creative at a kiosk. We call on the members of the Knesset and the government to consider the implementation of the absolute ban in Israel as well. We are in a very difficult time and difficult times require decisive steps".
The Cancer Society also added: "We send our condolences to the Keller family for the untimely death of Midan and remind the public that electronic cigarettes are a dangerous product that causes physical and mental dependence. Scientific studies have found a connection to symptoms such as coughing, vomiting, risk of asthma, high blood pressure, heart attacks, and damage to the respiratory system and lungs. As well as, damage to brain development in teenagers and young adults leading to attention problems, learning problems, emotional instability, depression and anxiety. We emphasize that although the electronic cigarette companies promote them as a clean alternative, without smoke and without cancer, new studies have already found genetic changes related to the development of cancerous tumors in the oral cavity, in the lung area and in the bladder in the users".
The name of the 16-year-old boy who died after using an electronic cigarette was released
