January 1, Parents Call for Action After 13-Year-Old Daughter Dies from “Chroming”

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In an agonizing turn of events, the parents of a 13-year-old Melbourne student who died from inhaling aerosol fumes are now on a mission to ensure their daughter’s untimely death is not in vain.

Esra Haynes, a Year 8 student at Lilydale High School, died after participating in a trend known as “chroming” on March 31, 2023.

Chroming, a practice of inhaling chemicals from aerosol cans to achieve a quick high, has become an alarming trend among teenagers.

In Esra’s case, it led to a cardiac arrest and irreversible brain damage. Her parents, Paul and Andrea Haynes, were blindsided by the tragedy.

Now, they are using their grief to advocate for changes that could prevent future tragedies.

They are calling for a change in deodorant formulas to make them safer, an increase in CPR training in schools, and tighter scrutiny on social media, which they believe is a key platform where kids learn about dangerous trends like chroming.

“We need the manufacturers to step up and really change the formulation or the propellants,” said Paul Haynes, emphasizing the lethal potential of these everyday products.

The family’s advocacy comes amidst an increase in chroming-related deaths among Australian teens.

This escalating problem led to a decision by some supermarkets, like Coles and Woolworths, to lock up their deodorant can supplies in 2021.

In light of Esra’s death, the Victorian Education Department has accelerated its efforts to inform students about the dangers of chroming.

However, the Haynes family insists on more robust actions and widespread change to stop another family from suffering a similar tragedy.

Paul Haynes points to the role of social media in spreading dangerous trends and urges stricter oversight: “We need to really lock down on the loopholes” that enable kids to access harmful adult content.

Ultimately, the Haynes family’s mission is to spread awareness about the consequences of chroming.

They hope that, by sharing their devastating experience, they can prevent other families from experiencing the same loss.

“We need to talk about it,” Paul said.

“Esra’s name meant helper so that’s what we’re here to do.”

In their sorrow, the Haynes are embodying the meaning of their daughter’s name, becoming helpers to others and striving to prevent such tragedies from happening again.

Their determined advocacy is a testament to their love for their daughter and their commitment to ensuring her life continues to make a difference.

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