A recent high school graduation party in Lørenskog has raised serious safety questions after at least 35 teenagers required medical examination for possible carbon monoxide poisoning. The incident echoes a similar tragedy five years earlier that left two people with permanent brain damage.
Magne Robberstad, who survived the infamous "Rave Cave" party where dozens were poisoned in an Oslo cave, expressed dismay that history repeated itself. "It surprises me that this could happen again," he stated. "Everyone has heard about the cave party. We should have learned from it."
During the recent celebration, police conducted a crime scene investigation and seized the gasoline generator suspected of causing the poisoning. Three adults now face potential charges: the venue owner, the generator supplier, and the parent who signed responsibility for the underage event organizers.
Norwegian health authorities emphasize that emergency services should be contacted immediately when carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected. Yet police learned about the poisoning only through media reports the day after the party concluded.
Robberstad finds this delay deeply concerning. "There must be a low threshold for calling help," he said. "Some people might have wanted to call an ambulance earlier but didn't dare."
Official accounts reveal police received a call about a fight at the venue around 11 PM on November 7. Multiple patrols responded but found no ongoing altercation and determined the party had ended after inspecting the premises.
The delayed reporting mirrors what happened during the cave party. Robberstad recalled carrying unconscious people to safety but noted nobody called emergency services until random passersby eventually summoned help.
Research from Norwegian substance abuse organizations shows this reluctance is widespread. In one study, 41% of respondents admitted they didn't call an ambulance during drug-related medical emergencies. Researchers identified fear of police sanctions as a likely contributing factor.
Robberstad believes similar thinking influenced both incidents. "Nearly 50% think it's better to risk people dying than to get help. That's serious," he noted.
As someone who has operated a light show company for nearly 20 years and frequently works with graduation parties, Robberstad sees broader responsibility issues. He notes many irresponsible operators in the industry and argues against blaming teenagers exclusively.
"It's incredibly important that some adults put their foot down," he stated. "Young people don't always understand the consequences."
Neuroscience research confirms the prefrontal cortex responsible for consequence assessment isn't fully developed until age 25. This makes placing full responsibility on teenagers unreasonable, according to Robberstad.
The Friday event was a "slippfest," a traditional Norwegian high school graduation celebration where organizers are under 18 and must have parental supervision. Authorities continue investigating whether proper safety protocols were followed and if reporting obligations were violated.
Norwegian police confirm any breaches of mandatory reporting requirements will form part of their ongoing investigation into the incident that has reignited concerns about youth event safety standards.