[ad_1]
A 17-year-old with a history of mental health problems died accidentally while experimenting with inhaling butane, a coroner ruled.
Jordan Allan Smolenski’s father, Neil Smolenski, went to sleep at his Christchurch home to wake him up around 1:00 p.m. M. From August 27, 2017.
He found his son on the bed in a strange position. Her head was tilted to one side and her lips were purple. He was cold and stiff. Smolenksi knew her son was dead.
Near the head of Jordan Smolenski’s bed were found two cans of butane that had been bought for a recent camping trip. They were empty.
READ MORE:
* ‘I feel bad when I see it every day’ – Businesses surrounding troubled city park receive new safety report
* Little Rascals star Bug Hall arrested after allegedly inhaling a feather duster
* Mother of two children found dead in her home after inhaling butane
* Children blowing flies when car catches fire – police
Coroner Alexandra Cunninghame ruled that the teen’s death was accidental and said there was no evidence of any incidents that could have triggered Smolenski’s impulsive and self-destructive behavior.
Their father wants parents to spread the word about the risks of inhaling solvents and to understand the warning signs that their children could be inhaling butane.
SUPPLIED
17-year-old Jordan Allan Smolenski died accidentally while inhaling butane in 2017.
Smolenski was a 12-year-old student at the time of his death. His grandfather, Allan White, said he was a “typical fun-loving kid” who had a group of close friends and enjoyed mountain biking.
Smolenski had a history of impulsive self-harming behavior, which his father said began about 18 months before his death. He had attempted suicide in early 2017 and was taking antidepressants.
However, her father’s partner, Michelle, told police that she had been making plans for the future, including getting a job.
On August 24, the teenager went camping overnight with his school. Michelle bought her two butane camping gas cylinders to use with her camp kitchen.
Smolenski appeared to be “in a very good mood” when he returned.
John Kirk-Anderson / Stuff
The most common age for inhalant abuse is 13-15 years old. (File photo)
Neil Smolenski and his son spent half of August 26 together. The family had dinner together and Michelle thought he seemed happy.
Around 10 p.m., Jordan Smolenski asked for Internet access so he could call someone by video. The internet was blocked because he was grounded, but his father agreed to unblock it.
Neil Smolenski found his son dead in his sleep the next day.
He and Michelle told police that they thought the death was accidental. They wondered if Jordan Smolenski had learned how to inhale butane from someone on the camping trip, or if he had been experimenting with the friend he was talking to online.
The Smolenski school guidance director told the coroner that no one knew that the students used butane or talked about it.
The coroner said Smolenski’s previous suicide attempt and self-harm occurred as “outbursts” when he was upset or frustrated, and there was no evidence that anything happened on the night of Aug. 26 that would have bothered him.
He said that no one who knew Smolenski could have done anything to prevent his death.
“It was a tragic accident.”
He cited a report on deaths in New Zealand related to the abuse of volatile substances (VSA), specifically butane, between 2000 and 2012.
It found that 63 people died as a result of the intentional inhalation of butane, of which 87 percent were under the age of 24 and 77 percent were men.
Users could die from their “first, fiftieth or hundredth use,” according to the study.
“It is impossible to guarantee safe use. Furthermore, the risk of sudden death does not disappear immediately when inhalation is stopped, but persists for several hours. “
Data obtained from the National Poisons Center shows that the most common age for inhalant abuse is 13-15 years.
Previous coronary recommendations included supporting youth, having an intergovernmental approach to youth injury prevention, improving education, ensuring better inter-agency collaboration and communication, and reducing access to substances.
In the mid-2000s, following investigations into six deaths, coroners in Christchurch and Wellington asked the government to warn young people of the practice.
Jane Sanders / Stuff
Butane gas has a number of uses, including in lighters and aerosols.
“Given that deaths among young people continue to occur as a result of VSA, and in particular butane inhalation, I believe it is worth urging agencies to continue to build on the work that has been started as a result of previous coronary recommendations.” said the coroner said.
Smolenski’s grandfather said that he had talked to many of his friends and found that the snort was more widespread than many people thought.
“This form of drugging is extremely dangerous and often fatal. As a very close grandfather to my oldest grandson, I still struggle with his passing and the loss of such a bright, funny and loving person. “
DEADLY GASES
Butane is a gas that is used in lighters and as a propellant in aerosols.
It can cause drowsiness, suffocation, heart palpitations, temporary memory loss, or death when inhaled, usually from “sudden sniffing syndrome.”
When sprayed, butane cools quickly and can cause frostbite on lips and tongues.
Propane is often mixed with butane in lighter fluid and aerosols.
It is also used as a fuel for cooking and heating in its liquid form, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Inhaling propane has risks similar to those of butane. Smoking can cause volatile solvents to ignite, resulting in death or injury.
