Smoking has long been a significant concern for healthcare professionals. As a leading cause of serious illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and strokes, smoking is estimated to cost the U.S. healthcare industry almost $227 billion annually, with wider economic impacts climbing to $600 billion.
Over the years, many techniques have been explored to help those addicted to smoking quit the habit, ranging from replacement therapies and medications to behavioral support programs. In recent years, however, e-cigarettes have emerged as a popular and supposedly effective smoking cessation method.
While some studies suggest vaping devices can be used as effective tools to help people quit smoking, their use can introduce new challenges. In healthcare facilities, for example, identifying and addressing vaping incidents to maintain safe wards can be difficult, as e-cigarettes don’t always emit distinct odors.
In this article, we explore the potential for vape detection technologies to effectively address and deter vaping incidents in healthcare facilities. Below, we examine how vape detection devices work, how they differ from traditional smoke detectors and the wider hospital safety benefits associated with their use.
What are vape detectors?
Vape detectors are specialized sensors designed to monitor indoor air quality for signs of airborne contaminants and particulate matter found in vape smoke. Vape detection devices can be installed in key areas around hospital facilities to help improve safety by automatically addressing vaping incidents.
How do vape detectors work?
Vape detectors work by using a combination of environmental sensors to identify unique chemicals like propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin found in vape smoke. If the device detects vape aerosols in the area, real-time alerts are sent to staff and wider security systems like security cameras can be engaged.
Common types of sensors found in vape detection devices include:
- Gas vape sensors: The vape detection device identifies specific gasses found in vape smoke by monitoring changes in electrical resistance or infrared radiation associated with target chemicals.
- Particulate vape sensors: The vape sensor uses advanced laser scattering technology to identify fine particulate matter suspended in the air, including telltale vape aerosols like propylene glycol.
- Combination vape sensors: Advanced vape detection tools use a combination of gas, particulate matter and wider environmental sensors to fulfil extra air quality monitoring and security purposes.
Some modern devices leverage additional environmental sensors to perform wider safety and security functions. For example, the HALO Smart Sensor uses multiple sensors to detect air quality issues, THC, spoken keywords, occupancy and gunshots as well as vaping particles to help improve on-site security.
A multi-functional device like the Halo Smart Sensor can be integrated into existing systems to improve security responses. Sensor data can be used as a trigger for security technologies like cameras, access control systems and alarms to address potential threats promptly and help maintain a safe environment.
The benefits of vape detectors in healthcare environments
The rising popularity of vaping has posed serious issues for many hospital administrators, healthcare workers, security teams and building managers in recent years. Unlike traditional tobacco products, e-cigarettes have no uniform design or unmistakable odor, making it difficult to detect vaping manually.
Persons addicted to nicotine often attempt to skirt no smoking policies by choosing to vape in enclosed areas like bathrooms and patient rooms. As recording devices cannot be installed in private areas such as these, policy enforcement can be difficult to manage while maintaining compliance with privacy laws.
For certified medical professionals and security personnel to reliably identify vaping incidents, solutions that only detect compliant stimuli are required. Vape detectors help teams maintain safe environmental conditions, as well as provide further safety and security benefits when integrated into existing systems.
Appropriate responses to vaping incidents
Vape detectors enable operators of healthcare facilities to engage appropriate, informed responses to vaping incidents. Active devices send real-time alerts to operators detailing when and where incidents have occurred, enabling teams to plan effective responses informed by practical contextual information.
If the system detects vaping in a patient room on a behavioral health ward, for example, operators can request a psychiatric mental health nurse to assist in the response and ensure the situation is handled with appropriate care. Unique policies can be created for different wards and added to detection alerts.
Real-time air quality monitoring capabilities
Many modern vape detection devices leverage additional air quality monitoring sensors to help identify and address environmental hazards. Teams can use sensors to collect real-time data on environmental factors like temperature, humidity and general air quality to facilitate healthier environments for patients.
Environmental sensors can be used to detect dangerous concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and airborne contaminants in private and public spaces. Operators can act on real-time data to engage emergency responses to air quality issues and help safeguard patients from serious health risks.
Compliant enforcement of no vaping policies
To maintain regulatory compliance with federal laws such as the Healthcare Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), hospital administrators and facility managers are prohibited from operating recording devices like security cameras in private areas like patient care rooms and hospital bathrooms.
As the only real-time monitoring vape detectors perform concerns non-identifiable information such as vape aerosols and contaminants, they can be commonly installed in private areas to deter and address vaping in compliance with privacy laws, empowering security staff to safely enforce no vaping policies.
Enhanced awareness of wider security threats
Some modern vape detection devices have additional sensors and capabilities that can be leveraged to improve security in hospital environments. A device like the Halo Smart Sensor, for example, can detect gunshots, spoken keywords, occupancy and THC in addition to vape smoke to help address wider risks.
As features like gunshot detection and sound detection don’t actively record live audio, the Halo Smart Sensor can be safely used in areas where cameras are prohibited. The Halo sensor’s keyword detection feature can also be used to trigger panic alarms in response to unique phrases and medical terminology.
Integration with existing security infrastructure
Multi-sensor vape detection solutions like the above-mentioned Halo Smart Sensor can be effectively deployed to enhance the operation of existing security systems. By integrating vape sensors into wider devices like cameras, alarms and smart locks, automated responses to common risks can be engaged.
For example, cameras can be configured to automatically flag footage in response to activation events and enable security teams to review incidents remotely, while gunshot or sound detection triggers can engage comprehensive security responses like full-site lockdowns to help maintain a safe environment.
What to look for in a hospital vape detection solution
There are many different types of vape detectors available to business and property owners designed to support custom workflows in unique environments. When assessing vape detector options for use in a healthcare setting, decision-makers should carefully consider the below key factors and capabilities.
- Detection range: Prioritize devices with a high detection range to help ensure optimal coverage over target areas; a detection range of 140+ square foot is recommended to cover a 12′ x 12′ area.
- Alert features: Effective vape detection solutions for hospitals will allow operators to create and send custom alerts across multiple channels including text, email and proprietary app notifications.
- Integration options: Look for vape detectors that can be freely integrated into existing hospital security systems to support workflows where activation events trigger instant physical responses.
Best practices for implementing hospital vape detectors
Today’s healthcare environment can be high-paced and complex, with most healthcare facilities facing numerous potential health and safety incidents in a typical day. Smart technologies and comprehensive security protocols can help to mitigate risk levels, so long as they’re well-implemented and maintained.
To successfully leverage vape detection technologies to strengthen hospital safety, building managers, administrators and security staff must work together to ensure systems are optimized for unique needs.
To help ensure optimal operation, stakeholders must carefully consider each of the below key factors.
Power and network availability
As vape detectors work by continuously monitoring air quality for signs of vaping particles and airborne contaminants, they must be powered at all times to function properly. In addition, vape detectors must have a secure connection to the hospital’s computer network to provide data about events to operators.
When implementing hospital vape detectors, teams must ensure target areas have available mains and backup power supplies, as well as wired or secure Wi-Fi connections to the facility’s network. Leaders must also consult healthcare cybersecurity experts to ensure sensor data is handled and stored safely.
Device coverage
Similar to traditional smoke detectors, vape detectors have maximum coverage limits, meaning sensors can only reliably detect target stimuli within a specific radius. Different models have different coverage capabilities, for example, the Halo Smart Sensor boasts an effective coverage range of 144 square feet.
Prior to installation, operators of healthcare facilities must ensure their chosen vape detectors are able to comfortably cover target areas. For larger spaces like waiting rooms and hallways, leaders should consider installing multiple vape detectors in series to help minimize blind spots and improve accuracy.
Sensor positioning
In addition to coverage considerations, leaders will need to make sure vape detectors are installed in optimal positions away from existing infrastructure that could hinder their operation. For example, vape detectors in bathrooms should be positioned away from taps to avoid false alarms triggered by steam.
While most modern vape detectors are designed to mitigate false alarms by using sensors that identify specific chemicals, good positioning will still improve detection accuracy. For optimal results, detectors must be installed above hotspots, away from windows and in line with the natural air flow of the room.
Anti-vandal measures
While installing visible vape detectors in healthcare facilities can help to deter vaping incidents, some people may choose to damage or obstruct sensors to avoid detection. Common attempts to stop vape detectors from working as intended include covering sensors with clothes and removing power supplies.
Administrators and facility managers can mitigate these risks by installing vape detectors out-of-reach to passersby and in difficult-to-reach areas, as well as choosing vape detectors with native anti-vandal features such as impact resistant casings and tamper alarms with audible and remote alert functionality.
Integration capabilities
Modern vape detectors can be leveraged to do much more than deter and address vaping incidents in hospitals, with many solutions supporting wider integrations with essential tools, security devices and building management systems that allow vape detectors to be used as triggers for useful automations.
To pursue wider integrations, leaders must prioritize vape detectors advertised as having an Open API architecture, as this feature allows the device to communicate freely with other tools and technologies.
In an integrated system, vape detectors can be configured to engage cameras, alarms and smart locks in direct response to vaping incidents, as well as HVAC systems in response to air quality issues. Wider automations can be developed if devices have additional sensors to address more severe security risks.
For example:
- Lockdowns: Gunshot detection sensors can be used to trigger a full-site lockdown in response to a potential active-harmer event, with time, date and location details sent to staff and local police.
- Panic alarms: Spoken keyword sensors can be programmed to engage unique responses to safety threats, enabling staff to discreetly request backup from security teams without risking escalation.
- Trespassing: Occupancy sensors can be configured to sound alarms, lock doors and send alerts to on-site security personnel containing links to live camera feeds in response to intrusion events.
Facilitating healthier environments and for patients and staff
Vape detectors play an important role in modern healthcare environments, not only as essential tools to help deter and address vaping, but as key components of automated emergency response installations.
Modern devices can be installed in public and private spaces and configured to provide security teams with actionable insights into emerging threats. Vape detectors can be used to trigger smart, automated compliant responses to a wide range of safety and security issues common in healthcare environments.
For administrators and security teams wishing to provide high standards of care and maintain safe and secure facilities, intelligent, integrated, multi-sensor vape detectors can be essential investments, empowering operators to better-identify and respond to both vaping and wider hospital security incidents.
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