A 10-year-old girl suffered horrific burns to her face after copying a viral TikTok trend that encourages children to put squishy sensory toys in the microwave. The explosion left her face badly burnt and blistered, prompting doctors to issue an urgent plea to parents about burns, microwaves, and supervision.
How the Incident Happened
Violet Zerbst heated a cube-shaped Needoh toy in the microwave for just 30 seconds before it exploded. She told 7NEWS that she intended to make the stress-relieving toy softer, not realizing it could become dangerously hot and unstable. "If it (the toy) is really hard, you think... warm it up. So I went to the microwave and I put it in, and I was just waiting... and then I got it, and I was just squishing it," she said.
When she took the toy out, the "liquid was like at the bottom." She squeezed it, and the hot contents formed a ball that "burst onto my face." Violet recalled being in "a lot of pain" and could "feel my skin coming off." Her father, Jody, admitted he was watching the FIFA World Cup and had commented that heating the toy would make it softer, but did not expect her to use the microwave. He called an ambulance while his wife ran Violet's head under cold water to soothe the burns.
Doctor's Urgent Advice
Dr. Veevek Thankey, a burns specialist and paediatric emergency medicine specialist at Queensland Children’s Hospital, was clear: "First of all, toys should not be going into the microwave." If burns occur, he advises running the affected area under cool running water for at least 20 minutes and warns against using ice, which can worsen the burn.
Violet was not the first child rushed to Gold Coast Hospital University that week with burns from a heated squishy toy. Similar incidents have occurred in Australia, the US, and the UK, causing second and even third-degree burns.
Warnings on Packaging and from Authorities
The Needoh toy, made by Schylling, carries a warning: "Do not leave in hot car or direct sun; contents may become hot. Do NOT heat, freeze or microwave; may cause personal injuries." Despite this, the viral trend persists. Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) policy officer Rhiain Reynolds stated that "misuse of household appliances can have devastating consequences" and urged parents to talk to children about the dangers of copying online trends.
TikTok told the BBC that content promoting dangerous behaviour that may lead to serious injury violates its community guidelines and will be removed. Violet is recovering at home with no eye damage and superficial burns that are not expected to scar.
