Boy taken to hospital after school vaping incident

A schoolboy was taken to hospital after falling ill from reportedly using a vape in school.

Pupils at Humphrey Perkins School in Barrow-upon-Soar, Leicestershire, were confined to classrooms for 30 minutes on Wednesday after a child became unwell and needed emergency treatment.

East Midlands Ambulance Service confirmed it was called, saying one patient was taken by ambulance to Leicester Royal Infirmary.

The school has since said the student "is now stable" and an investigation is continuing into why he fell ill.

Leicestershire Police also attended, with the force saying it is working with the school "to further understand the circumstances of what happened".

A statement from the secondary school issued to parents added: "The school community behaved impeccably and with respect and kindness throughout."

Della Bartram, associate principal at the school, said staff took "no chances" and dialled 999 immediately, adding the boy is now at home.

"What happened was he smoked a vape, and then took an adverse reaction to that," she said.

"Our investigations are continuing, and we're putting together the full picture."

Ms Bartram described vaping as "a massive problem", adding it poses "a real danger" to children.

"Thankfully for us we regard it as an isolated incident, but I really do want to stress that this is a national, societal problem, and there are many, many head teachers who are acutely aware of the dangers and the problems that vapes pose," she said.

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