A devastating incident has led to calls for improved warning labels on helium canisters after a 20-year-old New Zealand woman, Faith Waterman Batistich, died instantly from inhaling the gas at her child’s birthday party.
The tragedy occurred when Faith, a young mum of two, breathed in helium directly from a canister, unaware of the inherent dangers of the commonly used gas.
The Dangers of Helium Inhalation
When inhaled, helium displaces oxygen in the lungs, causing low blood oxygen, known as hypoxia, which can lead to damage and ultimately death.
The inquest into Faith’s death found that she was unaware of the risks of inhaling helium, and the coroner has called for clearer warning labels on canisters to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
A Party Game Turns Deadly
The incident occurred when someone suggested inhaling helium directly from the canister at the party, where guests were already inhaling helium from balloons to make their voices sound high.
Faith’s twin sister, Eden, described the moment her sister made the fatal mistake, saying, “it took some convincing” before Faith stepped up.
As soon as Faith inhaled the helium, another person turned up the flow on the canister, causing the gas to enter her body too quickly.
A Desperate Attempt to Save a Life
Faith’s family performed CPR on her for 45 minutes before emergency services arrived, but unfortunately, it was too late.
Eden said her sister “went blue instantly” and that nothing could be done to save her. The coroner’s report concluded that Faith died quickly due to asphyxiation.
A Call for Improved Warnings
The coroner, Louella Dunn, noted that there is a “mistaken belief” in the community about the dangers of inhaling helium, and that many people are unaware of the potential threats.
She recommended that warning labels on helium canisters should be made clearer and more prominent, stating, “Do not inhale – risk of serious personal injury or death” in bold print at the top of the canister.
The Current Warning Labels: Are They Enough?
The canister in question, manufactured by Australian company Alpen, had a warning sign on the side, but the coroner concluded that the warning was “in very small print” and that the threat to life was not given sufficient prominence.
The current warning label advises against inhaling helium and using the cylinder in well-ventilated areas, but the coroner believes that this is not enough to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Preventing Future Tragedies
The coroner’s recommendations aim to raise awareness about the dangers of inhaling helium and to prevent similar incidents from occurring.
By making warning labels more prominent and clearer, the hope is that people will be more aware of the risks and take necessary precautions to avoid them.
As the coroner stated, “What may seem like harmless fun is potentially life-threatening.”