Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings invites the public to learn more about the health risks associated with vaping at a free panel discussion with local medical experts.

Mayor Demings will welcome local doctors from Nemours Children’s Health System to discuss the symptoms they have seen, and what parents and teens need to know about vaping-related illnesses.

This free public forum is entitled “Vaping in Adolescents – Fact vs. Fiction. What you need to know.” Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions of the experts.

Scheduled to speak:

·         Dr. Lonna Gordon, MD Adolescent Medicine

·         Dr. Floyd Livingston, MD Pulmonology

·         Dr. Gift Kopsombut, MD Hospital Medicine

·         Dr. Thomas Hall, PhD Orange County Drug Free Coalition

Registration begins at 5:45 p.m. Presentation is 6 – 7:30 p.m. Monday, January 27, 2020, Orange County Board of County Commission Chambers, 201 S. Rosalind Ave., downtown Orlando.

Nationwide, more than 1,000 cases of vaping-related illnesses have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 48 states and 1 U.S. territory this year. There have been 18 deaths in 15 states.

In Florida, the Department of Health reports that there has been one death and 39 confirmed cases of lung injury associated with vaping in the state as of Oct. 1, 2019.