INGLESIDE, Texas — Vaping is a nationwide problem school districts have been dealing with for several years but now they're having to deal with undercover vapes.
Ingleside ISD Superintendent Scott Kilgore said the school district sent an email to parents earlier this week to make sure they keep an eye out for the deceptive vapes.
"It's really important for for us to educate our students and parents about the dangers of vaping and what we can do as a community to try to prevent our students from getting addicted and harming themselves with these chemicals that are in vape pens," Kilgore said.
C. Calderon has been a school resource officer for three years and said vapes have evolved to look like everyday items.
"They've found innovative ways to hide these vapes," Calderon said. "They have hoodies, they have little handheld games, they have highlighters and pencils and pens, any new way that they can sneak their little vape in. It becomes harder and harder to see these things and it's becoming easier and easier for the public and our kids to get to them."
Calderon said when people use vapes, they're inhaling different chemicals such as metals, nickel, and even rat poison.
"It is not better for you; like people believe vaping a nicotine vape is so much healthier it is not. It is actually worst on your lungs, it's a vapor," Calderon said.
Kilgore said the last thing they want is for a student to hurt themselves and that is why they'll continue to keep an eye out for undercover vapes.
"We don't know what the long-term consequences of vaping are," he said. "They don't know all the chemicals they're putting in their body, how it's going to effect them 20, 30 years from now."
Calderon attended a special training session that will help officers and staff be extra vigilant this year when looking for vapes on campus. However, the district still asks that parents do their part keeping the devices out of schools as well.