A dangerous new chuffing trend has sparked concern in Johannesburg after videos circulated on social media showing schoolchildren inhaling the contents of a fire extinguisher. The City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) says the practice, known as “chuffing”, is a serious health risk and is urging parents to speak to their children about the dangers.
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Joburg EMS raised the alarm after footage of learners “chuffing” went viral. The trend involves deliberately inhaling chemicals released from a fire extinguisher, something emergency officials say can have severe and even fatal consequences. In the videos circulating online, learners appear to inhale the contents and then exhale a visible cloud.
Smoking/deliberately inhaling the contents of a Fire Extinguisher is extremely dangerous, can lead to serious health issues,including respiratory distress, seizures and potentially death,@CityofJoburgZA Parents are urged to educate their children about the dangers @CoJPublicSafety pic.twitter.com/Zll7Mi8Cp6
— City of Joburg EMS (@CityofJoburgEMS) March 16, 2026
Why Inhaling a Fire Extinguisher is Dangerous
Joburg EMS spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi was blunt about the risks, saying, “A fire extinguisher is a fire safety device which is not designed for human consumption or inhalation.”
He added that inhaling the contents can cause serious respiratory distress and urged learners to stop immediately. Mulaudzi said the trend is harmful and warned that the contents of a fire extinguisher can cause “severe health issues, including pneumonia, seizures and even death.”
The Department of Basic Education has also condemned the videos, warning that inhaling chemical substances in this way can pose “serious and potentially fatal health risks, including brain damage, respiratory failure, and sudden death.”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, inhalants are chemical vapours that can create mind-altering effects but can also lead to loss of consciousness, coma and even death. The health body explains that inhalants can cause hypoxia, which happens when oxygen is displaced in the lungs and the body is deprived of oxygen.
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What Parents Should Do
The Department of Basic Education has urged parents and guardians to stay alert, watch for behavioural changes and speak openly to children about risky social media trends and substance misuse. Schools have also been encouraged to tighten safety protocols and intervene quickly where dangerous behaviour is detected.
Joburg EMS says it is also taking a proactive approach by inviting schools and communities to call in its Public Education Unit to teach learners about fire and life safety.
For parents, it is also important to emphasise to their children that a fire extinguisher is not a toy, not a prank and not something children should ever experiment with. If your child has seen the videos, now is the time to talk about it before curiosity turns into an emergency.
To report life-threatening emergencies, call the EMS Command and Control Centre on 011 375 5911.
Image credit: Unsplash/Piotr Chrobot
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