Ohio’s top health official sounded a warning Thursday about the rise in injuries caused by eCigarettes, saying they are disproportionately impacting kids 5 and younger. “I want to raise the alarm that the liquids in e-cigarettes or vaping devices are proving to be an increasing risk to our young children,” Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said during a virtual press conference Thursday. “This liquid can contain nicotine, and also THC, CBD, flavors, or some combination of those. Young children can be poisoned by swallowing the liquid, taking a puff – if they have seen someone else use it — or even from absorbing it through their skin or eyes.”According to data released by ODH, the number of vape liquid exposures reported to Ohio Poison Centers has nearly tripled since 2015. In 2015, 130 injures were reported and in 2022, 360 injuries were reported. Vanderhoff said that already in 2023, data is showing another increase with 328 exposures reported through the month of September.According to Vanderhoff, since 2015, more than 70 percent of exposures reported have been among children 5 years old and younger. Vanderhoff said when liquid nicotine is swallowed or spilled on skin, symptoms can be as small as nausea or vomiting or more intense with larger exposures like impacts to heart rate, blood pressure or seizures.Kids exposed may need to be taken to a healthcare facility for treatment. Vanderhoff said Ohio health officials along with Gov. Mike DeWine have been working to combat the rise in vaping especially among teens, including in new laws like Tobacco 21 which made selling any type of tobacco or nicotine products to Ohioans under age 21 a criminal offense“I think many Ohioans have simply been unaware of these very real risks,” Vanderhoff said. “and I want people who have vaping supplies in their home to become more aware of the risks these devices can pose to children.”