Jackson Middle School resource officer Adam Jones spoke with students at Greenmont Elementary School on Thursday about the dangers of vaping. Jones visited the school as part of Red Ribbon Week. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

VIENNA — Jackson Middle School resource officer Adam Jones and eighth graders Cole Sisk, Tyler Cameron, Camille Patterson, and Malia Williams visited Greenmont Elementary School on Thursday during Red Ribbon Week to speak to the younger students about the dangers of vaping, the side effects it can cause, and the consequences that come with it.

Jones told a story about a star football player who began vaping to fit in with his friends. Jones said he had to have a lung removed after six months of use. He told the students he lost his football scholarship and cannot walk up and down the stairs now without losing his breath.

“His quality of life has changed so much, for something he decided to do to fit in with people,” Jones told the students. “And after six moths his quality of life changed forever. He’ll never get that back.”

Jones then opened the floor for the elementary students to ask questions of their middle school peers. Questions ranged from how many people have the middle school students seen vaping to what to do if someone is trying to make them vape.

“You should tell a trusted adult, or teacher, and let them know,” Patterson said.

Jackson Middle School students Cole Sisk, Tyler Cameron, Camille Patterson, and Malia Williams spoke with Greenmont Elementary students Thursday during Red Ribbon Week. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

One student asked what the punishment for vaping would be. Jones told them they would get an in-school suspension and would have to go to a special school with their parent for five days.

Afterwards, Jones said it was important to speak with students about the dangers of vaping because education is prevention.

“If we can educate them about the side effects then hopefully we can prevent them from ever becoming users,” Jones said.

Jones said students may know what vaping is but not understand what it really is, and the effects it can have on them. He said it was good to have the middle school students come and speak with the younger students because they could relate to them.

Jones said he sits on the Wood County Prevention Coalition and helps to get the message out that vaping is harmful.

Jackson Middle School students Camille Patterson and Malia Williams answered questions from Greenmont Elementary students Thursday. Patterson and Williams visited the school as part of Red Ribbon Week. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

“If we can educate to prevent, we can always save lives by doing that,” Jones said.

Jackson Middle School resource officer Adam Jones spoke with students at Greenmont Elementary School on Thursday about the dangers of vaping. Jones visited the school as part of Red Ribbon Week. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)