Posted by Brasring_Ca on 11/6/05 5:47pm
Msg #74720

OT.... Warning to parents and grandparents of teenagers...

I realize that this board is for notary related but I am a notary and a member here who almost lost my 15 year old daughter last Thursday night to a product that we all probably have used or have heard of before.

I want you all to be aware that teenagers and young chidren are huffing (breathing in through their mouths) the product called DUST OFF and products similar, it is used to clean computer keyboards. This product is deadly! It has already taken the lives of several teens and it almost got mine. The product freezes the brain, stops the lungs from getting oxygen and STOPS THE HEART! It is very dangerous and easy to obtain. Anyone can purchase it from many local retail stores. Please be aware of this and talk to your children and grandchildren because awareness is the key. Please be sure to keep this product out of the reach of any children who may enter your home if you use this product. You might be saving a life!

My daughter was admitted to Saddleback Hospital Emergency Room in Orange County, Ca last Thursday night and stayed for 17 hours. They tested blood for cardiac enzymes several times and had to run multiple EKG's. She is medically cleared and going to be okay but mentally, she is in a psychiatric facility in Alhambra for the next 5 days, for further treatment and assessment.

Thank you,
Jenifer Smith

Reply by LilyMD on 11/6/05 6:03pm
Msg #74721

Wow, I had no idea that kids were huffing that stuff. Jennifer, my prayers are with you and your daughter.
Lily

Reply by Teddog_CO on 11/6/05 6:16pm
Msg #74723

Jenifer, My prayers are with you and your family.

Reply by NY_TaxLady on 11/6/05 8:32pm
Msg #74734

Re: Jenifer, My prayers are with you and your family.

Ditto. I can't imagine what you are going through.

Reply by MeMeinCA on 11/6/05 9:26pm
Msg #74737

Re: Jenifer, My prayers are with you and your family.

I never post on this forum, but just need to tell you my prayers are with you

Reply by christiSocal on 11/6/05 10:09pm
Msg #74739

I'll be keeping you and your family in my prayers too. n/m

Reply by Brasring_Ca on 11/6/05 11:03pm
Msg #74742

Re: I'll be keeping you and your family in my prayers too. n/m

Thank you all so much for the prayers, they are greatly needed and appreciated. I visited with my daughter this evening and she is learning a lot about what troubles other teenagers like her have and that hers are not nearly as bad as she thought. I can only hope that this is a blessing in the way it all has had to happen and that we will all be stronger in the long run!

Thank you all so much and just remember to remind those with children that this Dust Off cleaner is deadly!
Jenifer

Reply by Calnotary on 11/7/05 1:00am
Msg #74748

Re: I'll be keeping you and your family in my prayers too. n

I hope your daughter is better now, I will pray for you and your family every night.

God bless you and hope everything will be fine.

Reply by PJM/MI on 11/7/05 7:10am
Msg #74753

My heart breaks for you & your family. My 17 yr old son was a "methhead" and I didn't know it until he was arrested. Drugs do not know social boundries. I thought I was raising my sons to be "good" young men with morals and standards. Little did I know my 17 yr old was smoing meth in my house! It is oderless.
It was his older brother who told me his younger brother was a methhead. 2 days after I received this news, my son was arrested. He had snuck out of the house and was arrested with one of his meth buddies and had meth on him.
He is now in prison.
I can only begin to imagine your horror & your heartbreak over your daughter. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this tragedy. I hope she can re-couperate quickly without adverse effects.
I know first-hand how drugs can rip a family apart and steal away the very essence of a person. I have cried a river of tears over my sons situation.
Oh, the drug dealer was a man in his 30's who BRAGGED about all the high schoolers he had giving him money! His trial for having a traveling methlab is up & coming. And you can bet this mom has all ready sent a letter to the judge. I plan on being at his trial.

Reply by ColleenCA on 11/7/05 8:07am
Msg #74755

Re: OT.... Warning to parents and grandparents of teenagers.

My prayers are also with you and also PJM/MI for her son as well. I hope they lock up that dealer and throw away the key!

Reply by Brasring_Ca on 11/7/05 10:09am
Msg #74785

I am sorry to hear of your situation, I cannot imagine how I would begin to deal with your tragedy and my heart is breaking for you. I am simply taking this one day at a time and I am sure that for you it must be the same. My prayers are also with you and your family. I know everything happens for a reason but sometimes it just seems so bad and there is no reason visible. I have just moved to a new area and have not had time to make friends here yet. I know that I am never alone but it certainly gets lonely sometimes. Thank you for your story, it helps to know that even though we do our best to raise our children well and with good sense, they will sometimes stray and that it is no fault of our own but choices they have made to follow a wrong path and now we must help them to find their way back again. Jenifer

Reply by Mary Pierce on 11/7/05 8:10am
Msg #74756

Re: OT.... Warning to parents and grandparents of teenagers.

I can feel your pain right now. When my daughter was in her jr. and sr. year in high school we had a really tough time with her. She was in and out of the hospital because she had been doing self mutulation to herself. She had me up many nights crying that she felt worthless and did not want to live. She is now 23 years old and married with a wonderful life. I look back on those days and it makes me realize what an important role we have in our kids lives. These children nowadays have so many pressures on them now that it's no wonder they go through what they do. I have two stepboys ages 13 and 10 and I appreciate you sharing what you did about your daughter. Good luck to you and your family.

Reply by srnotary_CA on 11/7/05 9:19am
Msg #74773

Re: OT.... Warning to parents and grandparents of teenagers.

Thanks for the heads up. My prayers are with you and yours.

Reply by Brasring_Ca on 11/7/05 10:17am
Msg #74787

Re: OT.... Warning to parents and grandparents of teenagers.

I understand about your daughter, as mine is a cutter also. I just did not have the heart to go into all of it and was trying to focus on the message of the warning for the DUST OFF. Amy has been cutting for almost 2 1/2 years. She says it is not for suicidal purposes but rather to release pain. She has scars on her left wrist and arm, outside left arm, inside of both ankles and now her calves. She has been in counseling for all of this time but apparently, they are not very good at giving alternative problem solving ideas to these troubled teenagers. Amy finally did stop the cutting but I still worry. Now she has learned that Dust Off does not hurt, is quick and easy. Not the lesson I would like to take away from this horrible experience. I can only hope that my daughter, like yours will find her way too with tons of love and support and prayers from allover. Thank you and I will pray for your still young ones to do well and be smart and grow strong in this world. Jenifer

Reply by Carolyn Bodley on 11/7/05 11:00am
Msg #74791

Re: OT.... Jennifer

Jennifer,
Thank you for being so open and frank. Many in your situation would never dare discuss family problems openly. Although our son is far past his teens, I can attest that in today's society it is hard being a child and raising one. There are so many pressures teens face that we never had to deal with. When Dennis was a teen, three of his friends committed suicide.

I'm proud that you recognize the problem and not ignoring it or sweeping it under the rug. It is parents like yourself who take the job and responsibility seriously.

Reply by TitleGalCA on 11/7/05 10:44pm
Msg #74941

Thanks Jenifer for that post.

Know that there's loads of nice people here who might understand what you're going through. Take advantage of those offers to connect, vent, whatever. YOU matter too! My best to you.

Reply by BrendaTx on 11/7/05 11:09pm
Msg #74947

Jenifer, this is very important information. You are in good company and my thoughts/prayers are with you and your family.

Reply by Brenda/CA on 11/8/05 12:31am
Msg #74963

Jennifer,
My prayers are with you and your family. I was just talking to my daughter about this today she has pre teens. I just read an article this morning, written by the parents of a boy that died from this very same thing. The parents were stunned, the father a police office and the mother a nurse, had never heard of this. The article went on to say it is becoming a common trend in the age group of 9-13 years of age. Another thing kids are doing is called the choking game, a 14 year old boy that attended the same school as my nephew died from this. These children choke themselves or others until they faint, for the high feeling it gives them.