An 11-year-old girl from Irvine, Scarlet Rowe, suffered burns to her face and eyelid after microwaving a squishy toy, a trend that has injured six children in Glasgow alone over the past eight months. Doctors at the Royal Hospital for Children have treated multiple youngsters requiring skin grafts, including eight-year-old Joseph Erskine from Clackmannanshire, who needed weeks of treatment and a skin graft after a toy burst across his chest and hand.
Squishy Toy Microwave Trend
The viral trend encourages users to heat foam- or gel-filled toys in microwaves to make them softer, but the toys can explode under heat and pressure. Boiling-hot gel can spray onto skin, causing severe burns and potentially permanent scarring. Burns specialists urge parents to discuss the risks of copying viral videos with their children.
100mph Challenge Sparks Speeding Warnings
Police have issued warnings over the “100mph challenge,” where motorists film themselves reaching extreme speeds and share footage on platforms like Snapchat. The trend has resurfaced amid concerns from roads policing teams about anti-social driving. Speeding remains a leading cause of serious collisions, and offenders face fines, points on their licence, and potential disqualification.
Bark at Your Dog Challenge
Animal behaviour experts warn about a TikTok trend where users bark in their dog’s face to provoke a reaction. The challenge can confuse and distress pets, sometimes triggering aggressive responses. Dogs may interpret the behaviour as threatening, increasing the risk of bites and damaging trust. Experts urge owners to avoid the trend and learn to understand their dog’s body language.
Blackout Challenge Linked to Child Deaths
The “blackout challenge” encourages users to restrict breathing until losing consciousness, often while recording. It has been linked to multiple child deaths and ongoing legal action against social media platforms. Health officials warn that even brief oxygen loss can cause permanent brain damage or death. Children and teenagers are particularly vulnerable to peer pressure and may not understand the life-threatening risks.
Benadryl Challenge Raises Overdose Fears
Health authorities warn about misuse of the antihistamine Benadryl in a viral trend that encourages excessive consumption to induce hallucinations. Large doses can lead to seizures, heart problems, coma, and death. The trend first emerged in 2020 but has resurfaced periodically. At least one teenager has reportedly died. Experts urge parents to keep medicines securely stored and discuss the risks of copying dangerous online trends.
