School counselors looking for a fresh way to present safety information to a new generation found a solution in some service-minded high school students.
Ten Early College High School juniors and seniors put together a presentation and game show, “Escape the Vape,” demonstrating to fifth-graders the health risks of vaping.
They premiered the informative presentation, complete with prizes, on Friday at Trimmier Elementary School.
Early College counselor Daniel Helvetius said his counselor colleague Brenda Gillespie at Trimmier contacted him with the suggestion of students presenting vaping information to students, and he loved it.
He invited students in the AVID classes at Early College to interact with younger students and found some enthusiastic response.
The group formed a Canva presentation and game show and intermixed questions and other interactive activity to communicate the health risks connected to vaping and the misleading marketing practices associated with the habit.
Younger students appeared engaged in what their teenage peers had to share.
Three boys and three girls “competed” to blow up a balloon with a straw. Some were faster than others.
In the end, students realized the “winner” was using the sturdiest straw. The high school presenters acknowledged the game was rigged to demonstrate what vaping can do to the respiratory system.
Healthy lungs are like fat straws that can expand a balloon quickly. Damaged lungs are like smaller ones, requiring far more effort.
“We all decided to do this,” said senior Faruq Bailey, crediting Helvetius for the volunteer opportunity.
“This is the future,” he said of the younger students. “We have to do it. They are coming after us and we want to make sure our future is in good hands. I just want to help the community.”
Junior Paris Lee said it’s important to start young informing students about dangers like vaping and said people her age might have an advantage over the older generation.
“People experience vaping at a young age. We want to teach them at a young age how to react when they are approached about vaping,” Lee explained.
The presentation explained some of the harmful effects of nicotine and its addictive effects that can produce withdrawal and make quitting difficult.
They also showed pictures of some of the vape containers that looked like a USB, pen or other item.
“I think it’s important because they like to listen to teenagers,” she said. “When I was younger, I would listen. In middle school and high school, they will have more exposure to vaping.”
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