Health Department showing students dangers of smoking and vaping

The Salt Lake County Health Department is showing students how badly smoking can affect lung health in a very short period of time.

The Health Department displayed a pair of pig lungs side by side to fifth-graders at Hawthorne Elementary School during a recent presentation on the dangers of smoking and vaping.

Health educator Marica Peterson displayed a healthy pig lung alongside one that had been treated with chemicals that a typical pack-a-day smoker breathes in.

One lung was pink and filled easily with air, while the other had turned black and barely expanded when air was pumped in.

Several students said it was very unlikely they would ever smoke after the demonstration.

Ten-year-old Lilly Harmon said the contrast between the two lungs really surprised her.