To:

• Bureau of Certification Staff; and
• Child Care Center, Group Child Care Home and Family Child Care Home Operators

From:

Suzann Morris
Deputy Secretary, Office of Child Development & Early Learning

Issue Date: February 13, 2017
Effective Date: Immediately
End Date: N/A

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To provide policy clarification which prohibits the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) or similar devices around children in child care facilities.

The safety of our children in care remains the utmost priority. There have been some concerns regarding the recent trend of “vaping” and the potential use of e-cigarettes around children in care brought to the attention of Certification Representatives.

Vaping is defined as the inhalation and exhalation of the vapor produced by an e-cigarette or similar device. An e-cigarette is a cigarette-shaped device containing a nicotine-based liquid that is vaporized and inhaled, used to simulate the experience of smoking tobacco.

According to a December, 2016 Surgeon General report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “e-cigarettes can expose users to several chemicals, including nicotine, carbonyl compounds, and volatile organic compounds, known to have adverse health effects” (U.S. Dept. of HHS, 2016).

A similar finding from the American Lung Association states that “while e-cigarettes do not contain smoke, they do expose others to secondhand emissions” and that “there is no evidence that shows e­ cigarette emissions (secondhand aerosol) are safe for non-users to inhale.” The American Lung Association also “supports prohibiting the use of e-cigarettes in worksites and public places, and including e-cigm-ettes under smoke free laws with otlier tobacco products” (AT,A, 2016).

This announcement serves to inform child care providers and Certification Representatives that vaping or any use of e-cigarettes and similar devices should be categorized in the same class as regular cigarettes, pipes, or cigars. Therefore, e-cigarettes and like devices may not be used within a child care space, a play space or a food preparation area when children are in care or when food is being prepared. Any observed violation of this regulation by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning and its representatives will result in a citation at §3270.68, §3280.68 or §3290.66, relating to smoking.

1. The Bureau will share this policy clarification with all Certification
2. The Bureau will share this policy clarification with child care center, group child care home, and family child care home operators with the expectation that it is shared with their staff and parents.

“E-cigarettes and Lung Health.” Amencan Lung AssocwtJOn. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Jan. 2017 <http://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/smok1ng-facts/e-c1garettes-and-lung-health.html>.

£-cigarette Use among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2016. Dec. 2016. Web. 4 Jan. 2017. <https://e­ c1garettes.surgeongenera1,gov/documents/2016_SGR_Full_Report_non-508.pdf>.

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