Tri-County Prevention Coalition, one of our most trusted partners here in the Pine Bush Central School District, was on-hand at Pine Bush High School last week garnering the support of students for their current project.

 

 

Along with POW’R (Putnam, Orange, Westchester, Rockland) Against Tobacco, Tri-County Prevention Coalition is working to get local municipalities to prohibit vaping in parks and playgrounds. Many already prohibit smoking. The goal is to get municipalities to add vaping to the list of prohibited activities. They will go to municipal meetings and present information about protecting children from second-hand smoke and vaping.

 Alayne Eisloeffel from Tri-County was working with Leilani Lockett from POW’R, educating the students about the dangers of vaping. Many students stopped by and signed their names on a poster in support of changing legislation to prohibit vaping in public parks and playgrounds.

 

In addition to the damage vaping can do to someone’s lungs and those around them, POW’R also noted the litter from both smoking and vaping, including vape cartridges that contain toxic chemicals, nicotine and cannabis. The lithium ion batteries also pose a fire risk if not discarded properly.

 

 

“We want to make playgrounds and parks safe spaces for everyone,” said Ms. Lockett. “We are working to make this change throughout the Hudson Valley and we welcome support from our residents. It seems a common sense proposal.”