C.O. danger: Huffing air conditioning coolant

It’s a growing trend across the U.S.: teens huffing freon to get high. It’s now being seen on the High Desert, and has local officials asking you to talk with your kids.

Home Heating and Cooling in Bend says they got a call from a homeowner who said their air-conditioning unit was not working.

When the technician got there, the neighbor says she saw three teens huffing the Freon.

“It’s just dumb,” said Eli Johnson, service tech at Home Heating and Cooling, “It’s just dumb — this stuff will kill you.”

Johnson said there was vomit near the outside unit, a sign something had gone on.

“She (the neighbor) heard a ruckus outside and she witnessed three kids on the ground huffing,” Johnson said. “They were filling bags up and huffing the refrigerant out of the air conditioner.”

Steve Kreps, the Emergency Department manager at St. Charles Medical Center-Bend, says huffing is not as prevalent in Central Oregon as other parts of the country.

“It’s been only a handful of times over the last several years,” said Kreps. “In other areas of the country, it is something that is becoming a lot more prevalent in young teenagers.”

He adds that it’s a trend that he doesn’t want to see pick up here.

Officials say parents and others should know the warning signs of huffing.

Oftentimes, the person’s breath will have a chemical smell. In teenagers, there will be mood swings, or they will act differently. They also say to watch for changes in weight and eating habits.

Most importantly, experts say: Talk with your kids.

“Talking to your kids about it at an early age, and just communication with them (on) the dangers of huffing and trying to educate them early, so they can make a good choice not to,” Kreps said.

It is required by law that all new air conditioning units installed have special locking covers on the valves. Covers can range in price from $29 to $40.