Two 16-year-old students were ill on the school bus going home, and after they were dropped off another student told the bus driver that the two were inhaling from a can of computer duster. They were cited the following day for "inhaling toxic fumes and possession of a toxic substance."
The two students were not physically harmed by inhaling, but Dr. Electra Martin of a nearby hospital warns that,
"People can have brain damage, long lasting brain damage and it can even lead to death. It can cause heart arrhythmia which can cause death immediately."
She also recommends that parents look for "paint on hands and face. Clothes that aren't accounted for. If you have a runny nose. Sores around the mouth and nose."
This story follows one from last week; "Three Girls Huff on Bus, Become Ill". Perhaps it would be a good idea to include bus drivers in initiatives to raise awareness with educators and parents - many probably do not recognize the dangers of inhalant abuse or how to spot potential indicators: abusable products, side effects, or behaviors of students high on inhalants.
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