A coroner wants better warnings on helium canisters, which are commonly bought to blow up balloons for parties, after a mum died from inhaling the gas. Photo / 123rf
A coroner has called for better warnings on helium canisters after a young mum died from inhaling the gas in balloons at her daughter’s first birthday party.
The 20-year-old Bay of Plenty woman died in September 2022 and her death was referred to the coroner.
A ruling on the woman’s cause of death was published online this week.
The woman and her husband purchased a “Parties for Everyone” helium balloon tank from a local store to inflate balloons for their daughter’s party.
In New Zealand, helium canisters can be bought over the counter and can also be purchased online without any restrictions.
During the child’s party, her father inhaled from the helium canister, the coroner said.
The mother then also inhaled “very briefly” before grabbing her husband and falling to the ground.
“Her body locked up and she became unresponsive. Despite resuscitation attempts, [the mum] was pronounced deceased by attending paramedics,” the coroner’s report stated.
“As determined by me, [the woman] died from inhalation of helium from the helium canister/cylinder.
“It is apparent that [she] was unaware of the inherent dangers of inhaling helium. Her death was unexpected and tragic.”
The coroner investigated the fatal incident “for the purpose of reducing the chance of a further death occurring in similar circumstances”.
It was clear that there was a “mistaken belief” in the community about the dangers of inhaling helium, and the coroner made a number of recommendations aimed at preventing future tragedies.
Helium gas is colourless, odourless, and tasteless.
When inhaled it displaces oxygen in the lungs and causes hypoxia – low blood oxygen.
Hypoxia can cause damage and ultimately death.
The coroner said helium canisters were “freely available for sale” in New Zealand and commonly purchased for birthday parties and other celebrations.
“A tank plus the balloons retail for around $45-$70. The sale of helium canisters/cylinders is unregulated in New Zealand,” the coroner said.
“It can be considered funny and entertaining in a party environment to inhale helium which produces a high-pitched noise similar to that of a chipmunk.
“This is a known party pleaser. Many people are, however, unaware of the potential threats of inhaling helium in such a situation. What may seem like harmless fun is potentially life-threatening.
“These threats are heightened when inhaling pressurised helium from a cylinder/canister given the amount that can enter the body due to the pressurised gas.”
Photos of the canister the woman purchased, manufactured by Australian company Alpen, were provided to the coroner.
On the side of the bottle were instructions and warnings.
The warning statement advises purchasers to keep the canisters out of reach of children, that balloons represent a possible choking hazard and that they are made of natural rubber latex, which may cause allergic reactions.
Under the heading “danger - contents under pressure” was a further list of warnings including:
“The canister’s warnings are in very small print. The warning relevant to dangers of inhalation is the last warning of five other listed warnings,” said the coroner.
“I am concerned that the warning sign advising of the dangers of helium inhalation is not given sufficient prominence on the canister. Many members of the public would be unaware of the potential risk of inhaling helium from a pressurised canister.
“There are severe risks associated with inhalation of helium and the warning should in my view be at the top of the canister/cylinder.”
The coroner said the warning should be “prominent and obvious to purchasers” and made a formal recommendation about improving safety information.
“I do not accept that the current warning is either prominent or obvious and yet the potential risk of inhalation of helium from a canister can be fatal.
“I consider a recommendation is required. A helium canister should contain a warning that is sufficiently obvious to members of the public, many of whom are unaware of the dangers of inhalation of helium.
“I recommend that the warning should be in bold print at the top of the canister stating: ‘DO NOT INHALE – RISK OF SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH’.
“Placement of the warning in bold print at the top of the canister would ensure the warning is seen by those persons using or having access to the canister.”
The coroner could not say with any certainty whether such a warning would have alerted the woman to the dangers of inhaling and saved her life.
“However, given the mistaken belief by members of the public that inhaling helium may be harmless – I consider a prominent and bold warning is required,” the coroner ruled.
Anna Leask is a Christchurch-based reporter who covers national crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for 18 years with a particular focus on family and gender-based violence, child abuse, sexual violence, homicides, mental health and youth crime. She writes, hosts and produces the award-winning podcast A Moment In Crime, released monthly on nzherald.co.nz
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