A disturbing trend has surfaced in Gauteng, where young people are inhaling the contents of fire extinguishers in an activity known as “chuffing”.

A widely shared video on social media shows a group of school learners inhaling powder from a red fire extinguisher and then exhaling smoke-like fumes.

The footage has raised alarm among emergency officials.

Emergency services raise concern over ‘chuffing’ trend

City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services said it has noted the video circulating on social media, which shows learners inhaling toxic fumes from a firefighting device.

Spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi warned that the trend poses serious health risks and urged parents to closely monitor their children.

“This is the latest trend among youth called ‘chuffing’, where they inhale chemical powder from fire extinguishers, which is harmful,” Mulaudzi said.

Mulaudzi stressed that people should use fire extinguishers to put out fires, not to inhale their contents.

“Inhaling fire extinguisher contents such as dry chemical powder or carbon dioxide can cause severe health problems, including pneumonia, seizures and potentially death,” he said.

He added that fire extinguishers also pose other dangers. Their high-pressure discharge can cause injuries, and improper storage can lead to explosions.

Parents urged to educate children

Mulaudzi called on parents to educate their children about the dangers of inhaling substances from fire extinguishers.

He also encouraged communities and schools to take part in safety education programmes offered by the city.

The emergency services department operates BeSafe Centres across all seven regions of Johannesburg.

These centres provide residents with fire safety training and practical education on the correct use of firefighting equipment.

Schools can also invite public education officers to conduct safety programmes for learners.

Residents can contact the Emergency Management Services command and control centre on 011 375 5911 for life-threatening emergencies.