The latest “social media chroming challenge” has infiltrated popular platforms like TikTok, captivating a vast number of individuals who are actively engaging in online discussions surrounding this phenomenon. While these conversations shed some light on the challenges linked to this trend, it is imperative to delve deeper into the intricacies of this current craze and comprehend the underlying factors propelling its sudden surge in popularity.
The primary objective of this article is to bring forth a comprehensive understanding of the grave threat posed by the “social media chroming challenge.” Alarmingly, this particular trend has resulted in heart-wrenching fatalities, claiming the lives of unsuspecting individuals.
What is social media chroming challenge?
Despite its existence for some time, the chroming challenge continues to gain widespread attention, and unfortunately, not for positive reasons. The Strait Times reported back in 2019 that two teenage boys lost their lives due to their participation in this hazardous activity. Regrettably, this year, another fatality has been linked to the chroming challenge, this time involving an Australian girl.
Tragically, the victim’s name was Esra Haynes, a young girl who was merely 13 years old when she met her untimely demise as a result of chroming. Following Esra Haynes’s passing, the Google Trends data reveals a significant surge in interest surrounding the chroming challenge, particularly in the month of May. On May 14, news emerged that Esra Haynes had succumbed to a chroming overdose.
In light of this heartbreaking loss, Esra Haynes’s parents have emerged as advocates, determined to prevent other youngsters from falling victim to this dangerous trend. Their newfound mission in life is to safeguard young lives by raising awareness and discouraging participation in such senseless pursuits. Consequently, Esra Haynes’s family earnestly implores other parents to closely monitor their children’s activities and intervene to prevent them from engaging in similar potentially fatal activities.
On an episode of America’s Newsroom, Dr. March Siegel made the following statement:
“You’re literally inhaling paints and solvents to get a high … the problem is you have acetone in there, formaldehyde is in there. It’s called volatile organic compounds for a reason: It irritates your skin, it can get into your lungs, you can have seizures, you can have coma, and, again, we’re occasionally seeing people die from this.”
The chroming challenge seems to be a contemporary variation of the long-standing practice of inhaling toxic chemical fumes. This perilous trend involves the utilization of various substances, including aerosol cans, metallic paints, solvents, and gases. Unfortunately, as previously mentioned, two teenage males have already lost their lives this year while attempting this so-called “challenge.”
“The biggest problem is the long-term cognitive problems that it actually cause problems with concentration if you use it over time. The really dangerous idea to put organically active compounds to sniff them in,” Dr. Siegel added.
Unfortunately, a 13-year-old girl is lost
The term “chroming” originated from the act of inhaling the fumes of chrome-based deodorant or paint in order to achieve a euphoric state. The National Retail Association provides this explanation, shedding light on the origins of the name. Dr. Siegel, an expert in the field, expressed concerns about the influence of social media platforms like TikTok, attributing the rapid growth of the trend to their impact.
The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) in Melbourne, Australia, offers additional insights into chroming through a set of guidelines available online. According to the RCH, the chroming challenge is associated with certain physiological effects such as tachycardia, which refers to an abnormally fast heart rate. It also varies in its intensity of central nervous system depression, characterized by a reduction in brain activity. Negative consequences of chroming can include symptoms like mumbling, hallucinations, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.
While the immediate effects of aerosol or metallic inhalants may be temporary, prolonged usage can lead to severe health complications. These can range from cardiac arrest, loss of consciousness, and permanent damage to vital organs such as the kidneys, heart, lungs, liver, and brain, to convulsions and even death. It is crucial to be aware of the long-term risks associated with chroming, as highlighted by the guidelines provided by the RCH.
In addition to chrome-based products, the list compiled by the Royal Children’s Hospital of Melbourne includes various other substances such as petroleum products, paint thinners, nail polish remover, hairspray, and lighter fluid. These chemicals pose a significant risk and should be stored securely, out of the reach of children. Inhaling these substances can have toxic effects, including seizures.
It is especially important to note that young children can inadvertently poison themselves by directly accessing these chemicals from containers and inhaling them by using a soaked rag or cloth. Safeguarding these hazardous substances and ensuring they are inaccessible to children is crucial for their safety.
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In response to the tragic death of Haynes, the Victoria Education Department in Australia has pledged to enhance its efforts in equipping children with comprehensive information regarding chroming and the lethal consequences it entails.
