The dangers of 'chroming' as boy, 11, dies after taking part in social media trend despite mum's warning
A mum of an 11-year-old boy has issued a warning after her son tragically died from a social media trend known as 'chroming'.
Freddie Davis, from East London, was found dead in his bedroom on 20 January 2025 after inhaling toxic fumes from a can of deodorant.
His mother Roseanne Thompson said once she heard about the online trend, which involves sniffing aerosols to get a high, she stopped buying Freddie spray-on deodorants.
"I went into his room to wake him up," her statement read. "I opened the door and called out 'Fred' as I do most mornings.
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"I could see he was lying on his front with his face down. I called Fred again. Usually by now he would have responded.
"I began to analyse his position and was thinking 'Why is he like that?'
"I put my hand on his shoulder and noticed he was colder than usual.
"I called out for help and said, 'I think Fred has gone'. I dialled 999 and said to the operator, 'I think my son is dead'."
Roseanne warned that 'children do not realise the dangers' and that 'these things do kill people'.
The dangers of chroming
Chroming involves inhaling, via nose or mouth, directly from the container or a plastic bag saturated with a choice of a number of different products, according to pediatrician Dr Betty Choi.
The health expert said to CNN that 'inhalant abuse peaked in the 1990s and was downtrending over the last two decades'.
"But in recent years, experimentation rates among teens have risen again," Dr Choi added.
"Most of these products are easy to find in homes and cheap to buy in stores. (Chroming) can become addictive when it’s done over and over again."
Dr Anthony Pizon, professor of emergency medicine and chief of the division, said the term comes from the aftermath of inhaling metallic paints which leave a chrome residue.
He also believes that 'kids that are engaging in this activity are likely at risk of seeking more potent drugs'.
Health risks from chroming
According to St Louis Children's Hospital, health risks include brain damage, irregular heart rhythms leading to fatal cardiac arrest, long-term lung damage and damage to vital organs, including the liver and kidneys.
“The best way to approach chroming is to approach it like other dangers — an ongoing conversation over time,” Choi added.
She suggested to warn children of the dangers right away by saying: "It can permanently screw up your brain, heart and other organs. Some kids have even died the first time. I love you and want to make sure you know the facts. My job is to help you make safe decisions about your body.
"If they feel safe and supported, they are more likely to open up and share their thoughts with you."
Ashley Martin, public health adviser at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: "There's a common misconception that fatalities from aerosols only happen in a substance abuse scenario, but this is absolutely not true.
"We have seen a number of fatalities over recent years where children and young adults have over-sprayed aerosols - from teenagers conscious of body odour, to children seeking reassurance from familiar smells."
Anish Vij