Esra, a vibrant 13-year-old with a promising future, fell victim to the dangerous trend of chroming, which led to her untimely death. Despite their unimaginable grief, the Haynes are determined to make Esra’s life count by ensuring her story serves as a catalyst for change.
Chroming is back. It seems like this dangerous trend cycles back around just like old fashion trends and hits every generation. Thanks to the power of social media, this and other dangerous trends have a wider reach, with many tragic wide-reaching results.
Young Girl’s Parents Plea For Action
For the parents of Esra Haynes, March 31, 2023, was just like any other day. Esra (13) had gone to hang out with her mates and as part of their regular routine, she attended a sleepover.
“We always knew where she was, and we knew who she was with. It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary,” her dad, Paul said.
During the night, Paul and Andrea received a phone call to come and get their daughter.
“We’ve got the pictures in our mind which will never be erased, you know, of what we were confronted with.” Paul added.
Paramedics Worked To Revive Esra On Scene
Paul and Andrea explained to Ally Langdon on A Current Affair that they arrived on the scene and were informed their beautiful and cheeky daughter had been chroming. Tragically, despite the best efforts of paramedics, Esra remained unresponsive and was rushed to hospital and placed on life support.
After eight days, doctors informed Esra’s family that though her heart and lungs were strong, her brain was irreparably damaged.
Esra’s Family Given Precious Time
Paul said after eight days, they were told to bring in family and friends to say goodbye to their sporty teenager and left with the heartbreaking decision to switch off life support. He added: “It was a very, very difficult thing to do to such a young soul.
Her devastated sister, Imogen, recalled the phone call from her mother saying ‘Esra’s unconscious, you need to come now, she’s lost her pulse, she’s going to pass away.’ She said her sister was blooming and life had just started for her. And that Esra fought as hard as she could.
And so, after eight days on life support, Esra, surrounded and loved by her parents and siblings Imogen, Seth, and Charlie, took her final breath.
Devastated Parents Call For Action
Paul and Andrea know Esra isn’t the first or last to try this lethal trend. In 2019, a 16-year-old NSW boy died. In 2021 a 16-year-old girl from QLD suffered brain damage and in 2022, a 16-year-old QLD boy died. A British boy was eleven when he tried this trend and died from it.
Countries across the globe have started locking their aerosol deodorants to prevent theft and chroming incidents. But Paul and Andrea want companies to create safer formulas for their aerosol sprays. They also want CPR taught in schools across the country and for those potentially lifesaving first aid skills to be refreshed every two years.
Social Media in Their Sights
We all know how algorithms work. It seems like you send an extra few seconds on one video and suddenly, more pop up. Or you have a conversation about a topic, and the next thing you know, there are ads for it everywhere.
Paul says there needs to be tighter scrutiny from social media to lock down loopholes younger kids can use to access adult or dangerous content. He says all it takes is one kid to see and share a video for it to reach more. He calls for the government to step in to prevent kids from interacting with these dangerous trends.
The South Australian government could become the first to act on calls for social media bans. Children aged thirteen and under will be banned from social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Thirteen is the minimum age for these apps, but users can put in a different birth date when creating an account so one has to wonder how this will be monitored.
“We’ve always sought to regulate and limit access to products or services that do young people harm.” Peter Malinauskas, Premier of South Australia
He went on to say it’s time to think of mobile phones and excessive social media use in the same terms. This call is welcome news for parents like Paul and Andrea.
Watch the entire interview with Ally Langdon, and be sure to have these conversations with your children about the dangers of chroming before they, or one of their friends, becomes the next tragic statistic.
So, what is Chroming?
Chroming is a dangerous activity where individuals, often teenagers, inhale the fumes of aerosol products, such as paint, deodorant, or cleaning products, to achieve a temporary high. The term comes from the use of chrome-based spray paints, but it has since expanded to include a variety of household and industrial products.
The inhalation of these fumes can cause a range of effects, from euphoria and dizziness to hallucinations and impaired judgment. However, chroming is extremely hazardous, leading to potential long-term health issues such as brain damage, respiratory problems, and even sudden death from cardiac arrest or asphyxiation.
Signs Your Teen Might Be Chroming
- Chemical Smell: A noticeable smell of chemicals or solvents on your teen’s breath, clothes, or in their room.
- Empty Containers: Finding empty aerosol cans or solvent containers in their room or hidden around the house.
- Physical Symptoms: Signs of intoxication like slurred speech, lack of coordination, red or runny nose, bloodshot eyes, and nausea.
- Behavioural Changes: Sudden changes in behaviour, such as increased secrecy, withdrawal from family activities, or a drop in academic performance.
- Stains on Clothing: Paint or chemical stains on their clothes, hands, or face.
- Paraphernalia: Discovering rags, bags, or other items that might be used to inhale fumes.
Esra Haynes’ tragic death has left an indelible mark on her family and community, sparking a mission for change driven by her heartbroken parents, Paul and Andrea. “Her name meant helper,” Paul said, “so that’s what we’re here to do.” Their commitment to transforming their loss into a force for good stands as a powerful tribute to their beloved daughter.
