Learners have been warned against a dangerous viral trend known as “chuffing”, after videos surfaced showing pupils inhaling chemicals from fire extinguishers, raising serious health concerns. Picture Credit: PSLFireSafety
By Aisha Zardad
South Africa — The Department of Basic Education has issued an urgent warning following the circulation of a disturbing social media video showing learners in school uniform inhaling powder from a fire extinguisher.
The widely shared clip, believed to have been filmed inside a classroom, shows a group of pupils participating in the dangerous act. Authorities have not yet confirmed which school the learners attend, but the incident has raised alarm nationwide.
The trend, known as “chuffing”, involves inhaling chemical substances to achieve a temporary high — a practice experts warn can have severe and potentially fatal consequences.
Department spokesperson Terence Khala strongly condemned the behaviour, warning of the serious health risks involved.
“Inhaling chemical substances in this manner poses serious and potentially fatal health risks, including brain damage, respiratory failure, and sudden death,” he said.
Khala stressed that schools are meant to be safe spaces dedicated to learning and development, and that such behaviour directly undermines this responsibility.
“Any activity that endangers the lives and wellbeing of learners undermines this responsibility and will not be tolerated.”
The department has called on parents and guardians to remain vigilant, urging them to engage actively with their children about the dangers of substance abuse and harmful social media trends. Warning signs may include sudden behavioural changes, unusual items brought home, or secrecy around activities.
Schools have also been urged to tighten safety measures. These include conducting random inspections where necessary, monitoring items brought onto school premises, strengthening life orientation lessons around substance abuse and peer pressure, and ensuring swift intervention when risky behaviour is detected. Collaboration between educators, school governing bodies, parents and local authorities has been highlighted as critical in preventing such incidents.
Provincial education departments have further been encouraged to ramp up awareness campaigns addressing substance abuse and emerging harmful trends among learners.
Meanwhile, the City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services has echoed the warning, cautioning parents about the dangers linked to the trend.
“Smoking or deliberately inhaling the contents of a fire extinguisher is extremely dangerous and can lead to serious health issues, including respiratory distress, seizures and potentially death,” EMS said.
Authorities emphasised that fire extinguishers are life-saving safety devices and should never be misused.
Parents are being urged to educate their children about the risks, while schools are encouraged to partner with EMS public education teams to deliver fire safety programmes and reinforce awareness around the misuse of hazardous equipment.with rising living costs.
