Weatherly Area High School students demonstrated the dangers of smoking Wednesday for the Great American Smoke Out, which is held annually on Nov. 16.

Teens Against Tobacco Use students took part in a “Ghost Out” activity, in which they were tapped by the Grim Reaper due to smoking or tobacco use.

Those students wore white-face makeup and no longer interacted with anyone in school the remainder of the day, and each scenario of how, why and year that they died due to smoking was announced.

All of those tapped died on Nov. 22. Some many years in the future, and others much sooner.

Their adviser, Rebekah McFadden, school nurse, said that many teens don’t realize the effects of smoking and tobacco use, and the activity illustrates how smoking could affect them down the road.

“Tobacco use is deadly,” she said in a morning announcement.

The “Ghost Out” activity also provides an opportunity for those who do smoke or use tobacco to quit or find out what steps to take to get help to quit smoking, McFadden said.

The Weatherly Area School District sees many students using E-cigarettes or vaping, rather than smoking a cigarette, McFadden said.

“That’s the big issue,” she said. “They just think it’s the lesser of the evils, and it’s not true.”

The school hosted a presentation in February on the dangers of E-cigarettes and vaping, which can be more addictive and dangerous for teenagers.

Students who use tobacco were encouraged to check out these resources to quit: 1-800-Quit-Now, www.tobaccofreene.com; www.smokefree.gov, www.cdc.gov/tobacco, or www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/tobacco.