Huffing leads to death

I read with regret about the death of 18-year-old Aaron Hunt, whose death late Friday followed huffing of an inhalant on Monday. I met Aaron, his brothers and his mother back in 2005.

Even in this time of intense sadness in the family, his family is attempting to warn others of the dangers. How many parents have even a clue that their own kids might be engaging in such a risky behavior?

Now is the time to talk (again?) with your kids about self-preservation and control over their own habits. I'm not sure how you convince a kid that he is not "bullet-proof". Many think they are indestructible or that "just once" or "not very often" won't cause them great harm.

Police apparently know what substance Aaron inhaled, because they say, according to news reports, that it was not an illegal substance. Maybe it's wise not to publish the name of the substance.

But maybe it is unwise to withhold the name of it. Will other kids unknowingly inhale that substance, not understanding the danger associated with it?

News reports indicate that Aaron was in a car "with friends" (plural) when he stopped breathing. Why didn't the kids in the car with Aaron call 911 immediately? Probably they panicked. Media reports indicate the 18-year-old (male? female?) driver called a 17-year-old girl, who happened to be walking near Chapel Hill Road and Country Lane. The 17-year-old girl called 911, and the driver apparently drove to her location.

Would the outcome have been different, had the driver stopped immediately, phoned 911 and started CPR right there? It's a question without an answer.

How many young adults have learned CPR and remember how to use it? Methods have changed, and anyone whose CPR training was "a while back" might seriously consider taking a refresher course.

Police have not identified the friends (plural) who were in the car with Aaron on Monday when he stopped breathing or the girl who phoned 911 to summon help for Aaron.

Police have not ruled out the filing of criminal charges.