THESE Alvin and the Chipmunks wannabes are lucky to be alive.

They inhaled helium from a tank to produce the high-pitched, squeaky voices similar to those of some cartoon characters.

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What the ITE College East students didn't realise was that inhaling helium from a tank can kill you.

Netizen Henry stumbled on videos of the boys uploaded online by a school mate.

He submitted videos entitled "ITE students take turns inhaling helium just for kicks" to the online citizen journalism portal Stomp.

The students are shown taking turns to inhale helium from two tanks and then spoke or sang in "chipmunk" voices.

They did this repeatedly as others laughed at them.

Helium changes the resonances of the vocal tract and affects the timbre of the voice, making it sound squeaky.

In response to The New Paper's queries, Mr Chong Leong Fatt, ITE College East's director of college services, said: "We are aware of the isolated incident, which happened during an external event held at the college. We have reminded our estates department to ensure that helium tanks are placed in a secure place.

"Our student care officers have talked to the students involved. They admitted being curious about the effects of helium.

"They have been counselled on the possible hazards of their actions."

The New Paper understands that the organisers had left the tanks unattended during the event.

The videos have received mixed reactions since they were posted on 9 Mar.

Stomper vhboy12345 said: "People who turn to helium inhaling have nothing better to do... in fact, they should focus on studies and not indulg (sic) in this kind of activit (sic)."

Henry, in his Stomp post, wrote: "I am filled with great disgust at the way the young abusers were enjoying their "kicks".

"I am even angrier with the institution for leaving the two tanks of helium totally unguarded in the school compound and within the reach of these young abusers."

The Singapore Science Centre ScienceNet website states that the high pressure of helium from the tank can damage the lungs as well as send a bolus (concentrated mass) of gas into the bloodstream.

It added: "This can lodge in the brain, causing a stroke, seizures and death. Chemical reaction does not cause fatal injuries. Rather, the pressure of gas inside the lungs is the agent that can kill instantly. Under such circumstances, cardiopulmonary resuscitation is of no avail."

Dr Bernard Lee, a consultant anaesthetist at Paragon Medical Centre, said one should not inhale any gas from a high-pressure tank.

"You can get 5 atmospheres of pressure into your lungs. We are living in 1 atmosphere of pressure on ground level. If your lungs get filled with 100 per cent of helium, they will explode," he said.

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