i would like your opinions!!

[razmatazthespaz]

i am in a mom's forum, and right now there is a post about e-cigs!
i'm not going to give details,
the gist of it was a woman was vaping in an ER waiting room, and this woman was upset and concerned for the affects it would have on her child and the other sick people there.....
i would just like to begin a discussion on this: vaping in a hospital??

OK GO, thoughts, opinions, what you would say to this mother.................

 

[JWebb]

Probably not much to say in that situation, maybe just let her know it is not a cigarette, only water vapor, and be polite and show respect. Suggest she read up on them later, she may appreciate the thoughtfulness of the vaper and come to respect our community and educate herself and others. IMHO.

 

[CBB]

The only chemical that would be at all detrimental in vapor is nicotine, and there isn't much of that in exhaled vapor. Nicotine laden water vapor is heavier than air and will quickly fall to the floor when cooled. There is a small risk of second hand inhalation but the amount of nicotine that would make it to someone else would be very minimal probably less than eating any vegetable that naturally synthesizes nicotine.

 

[swedishfish]

Does the hospital have a policy on vaping? My mother was able to vape in the hospital but I cleared it first with her doctor and the nurses were aware of it. They give people patches in the hospital so I guess they just put it in that catagory.

I doubt if I would in the er waiting room, just because of the whole environment. People aren't exactly happy go lucky. A bunch of sick people sitting around in uncomfortable chairs staring at each other waiting to get called. I'd probably just go outside and end whatever potential drama or conversation about it.

Other settings I would. In this one- probably not.

 

[Moonflame]

I vaped in the ER examining room with the permission of the Docs when Hubby got sick last year. I knew it was bad when they said "We usually don't let people, but go ahead." They'd already called the air transport so I was only there about 10 mins, but being able to vape saved me from bouncing off the walls in panic. Then I stealth vaped in his ICU room and vaped openly in his semi-private room at UVA Hospital. I talked to the nurses, doctors and his roommate about it and none of them had a problem with it. They told me they wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't told them since there was no lingering smell. I'd have probably stealth vaped if I'd have had to sit in the waiting room though.

 

[Maxine]

As I was pocketing the ecig I would say "I assure you it's harmless but the last thing I want to do is add to your upset. How's the baby and have you been waiting long?"

That said, I wouldn't have had the thing out in the first place. Hospitals are already starting to ban deodorant, scented shampoos, and fragranced soaps, etc, and logic/reason/science has nothing to do with it. I'd save my breath for vaping outside.

 

[wv2win]

I vape in my doctor's office and in the examining room. They are fine with it because they have done the research (through my urging) and know it is not harmful to others. If you explain it properly, most people will be fine with it.

 

[Zod]

Stealth vaping did not come about from being inconsiderate of others. It came about from not wanting to deal with ignorance.

 

[melloyello]

i thought i was addicted...wow. now matter how harmless it is, isnt it common courtesy to respect other peoples space to some degree? if im addicted to the sound of a chain saw, i certanly dont rev it up anywhere just because i can.

 

[dattmavis19]

I would politely explain that it was harmless water vapor, if she still had a problem, i would probably just move away from her and her kid. Unless the hospital staff, or a majority of the people waiting said something about it, i see no reason to take it outside.

 

[Infernal2]

i am in a mom's forum, and right now there is a post about e-cigs!
i'm not going to give details,
the gist of it was a woman was vaping in an ER waiting room, and this woman was upset and concerned for the affects it would have on her child and the other sick people there.....
i would just like to begin a discussion on this: Vaping in a hospital??

OK GO, thoughts, opinions, what you would say to this mother.................

While I'm sure that many may not agree, I tend to be as courteous about vaping as I was about smoking. I don't do it in places smoking is not welcome and if I absolutely need a puff, I can step outside. Its nothing more than a few light trace chemicals and water vapor, nothing harmful, but I still maintain the respect level.

 

[Maxine]

"Sure you've got a life or death situation going on here, but listen up while I explain why this moment should be about me..."

And as you calmly and patiently reason away her fear of ecigs, I'll be wondering how you're in the emergency room to begin with. The rest of us are plenty stressed out, preoccupied and short-tempered when we're there.

 

[razmatazthespaz]

@reggie: you make a valid point, in a stressful situation like an ER waiting room, i'm not sure there are many people with the calm or patience to listen to an explanation of how e-cigs are harmless!! idealy it would be great if there was just more awareness of it's safety so these problems are moot!

but even wothout that awareness, the vaper could just step outside!

 

[4mehealth]

Perhaps I look at vaping differently. Although there is plenty of information out there, I'd rather just not deal with any of it. Much like a cigarette, I just want to enjoy my pv/ analog. At this point, I'm treating my pv as an analog. I don't do it in front of my kids. I don't do it in the house, my office, etc.

It is still treated as a cig.

As for vaping in a hospital, I don't think I'd even think of using one in there. As others have mentioned, hospitals aren't exactly happy places. Just hold off until you get to the smoking area.

 

[MizMia]

I vape in the bathroom of medical facilities as to not cause distress to people who are there due to personal distress or tragedy. In other places, bars, movies, I educate myself on the protocols of the establishment and the state laws that apply and educate people on the facts on the matter. I am a healthcare professional and a law abiding constituent.

 

[mohawkx]

I took up vaping to replace a long term addiction to cigarettes. While using cigarettes the last 50 years I've watched it go from a totally acceptable practice used by Drs. and everybody else in public. Over the years it has become less and less acceptable in public spaces. I learned to deal with that and didn't smoke in public places. I continue that practice with e-cigs. I don't use an e-cig in situations where I couldn't light up an analog. As I stated, e-cigs are a replacement for analogs for me. I use them for that purpose and that purpose only.

 

[mohawkx]

I have an additional thought on the matter. Let's just say that an administrator in that hospital gets a complaint from a patient that someone is smoking in the emergency room. She walks out to see what is going on and see's a vaper blowing clouds of vapor around the room and trying to convince the person next to them that the "smoke" is totally harmless. The vaper feels they are educating the public. The administrator see's nothing but disruption in her emergency room. She bring the matter up at the next board meeting. The board votes to institute a blanket ban on all e-cigs on hospital property because it is the most direct solution to the situation. The board could have instituted a comprehensive study of the health effects of e-cigs and issued a long missive on how little harm it does but how likely do you think that is going to happen? The single vaper who called the question has set back public acceptance of vaping and done a dis-service to the vaping community as a whole. The OP specificly asked for opinions and this is mine.

 

[martha1014]

I was recently in the hospital for two days. I vaped in my room but never in front of the hospital's staff. If they came in my room I put it away. Nobody even noticed it. I don't vape openly any place. People see the vapor and assumes it is smoke. I don't like explaining what it is. If no one is looking they won't even know you are vaping since it has not smell.

I don't like calling attention to myself. There is a place and time to vape just like smoking cigarettes.

 

[polphot]

Stealth vaping did not come about from being inconsiderate of others. It came about from not wanting to deal with ignorance.

Agree! Sometimes its hard to reason with ignorant people or worse to those stubborn people who perceive vaping and smoking are all the same. They are the types who generally keep a close mind on tobacco use and alternative nicotine delivery devices and will ultimately die as such.

 

[Maxine]

Back in the good old days when cigarette smoking was accepted positively everywhere, a smoker would ask whomever else was in the room "Mind if I smoke?" An objection meant there was no smoking. It just wasn't done even though there was no law against it. If ecigs are truly going to be an accepted alternative to smoking, I don't think we should half-step by only taking the part that's the alternative for ourselves and not giving out with the part meant for others around us. I only wish gum-snappers and teeth-suckers would fall into the same line.