We support awareness on the dangers of vaping in young people
The paediatric ward at Kettering General Hospital is hosting a community poster competition for children and teenagers to help highlight the dangers of vaping.
Anyone aged up to 18 can take part in the competition– whether in hospital or in the community – and win prizes of a hamper or vouchers.
They need to design an entry and send it to the play team at Skylark Ward at KGH by email at kgh-tr.playteam@nhs.net or a hard copy to the ward play team. Entries need to be in by January 31, 2026.
The aim is to encourage greater awareness of the risks of vaping among young people in Northamptonshire at a time when the popularity of the habit is rising – even though it is illegal to sell nicotine vaping products to anyone under 18 or for adults to buy them on behalf of under-18s.
Research by the NHS has shown quarter of 11 to 15-year-olds have tried vaping and nearly 1 in 10 (9%) do it frequently.
The idea arose from the ward’s Shared Decision-Making Council which decided it was one worth publicising.
Council member, and play specialist, Louise McKerral, said: “We hope this competition and the publicity surrounding it will help to improve awareness of the issues around vaping and encourage young people not to vape, or be tempted into smoking, which we know is much more harmful in the long-term.
“While it is illegal to sell vaping products to anyone under 18 the results of the NHS survey show that this is not stopping children from trying vaping, with its potential negative effects.
“On our ward we have had patients as-young-as-13 who have openly admitted to vaping and we know it can have negative effects.”
- Addiction - While vaping doesn’t have the many harmful chemicals associated with smoking it does have nicotine which is an addictive substance, which can be difficult to stop using once you have started.
- Side effects - From nicotine may include headaches, dizziness, racing heart, possible vomiting, stomach cramps and weakness.
- Side effects of regular vaping can include coughing, dry mouth and throat, shortness of breath, mouth and throat irritation and headaches.
- The long-term effects and risks of vaping are currently unknown.
Amie Gillespie, Assistant Directorate Manager for Paediatrics & Neonates, said: “We thought the competition was an interesting way of us generating some awareness in young people of the risks associated with vaping.
“We hope they will be creative in designing a poster for use in hospital – and in the wider community - to help discourage young people from experimenting with it.”
The wining poster will be judged at the end of the month with support from the drugs and alcohol charity Aquarius. Prizes include 1st prize hamper from Asda along with £50 voucher, and second and third prize vouchers of £30 and £20 provided by the Rising Sun Skittle charity.