A 14-year-old boy in St. Petersburg, Florida, has suffered serious burns after attempting a viral TikTok experiment known as the “Jam Jar Pulse Jet”. The incident has prompted urgent safety warnings from local fire authorities.
The experiment involves pouring a small amount of rubbing alcohol into a jam jar with a hole in the lid and setting it alight to create a pulsating flame resembling a miniature jet engine. However, the St. Petersburg Fire Rescue warned that the jars can explode, sending fiery alcohol and glass shards in all directions.
Division Chief Ian Womack described the injuries as “life-changing” and emphasised the real danger of fire and explosion. “Heaven forbid it causes a laceration or something that causes life-threatening bleeding. But, the fire risk is real,” he said, according to Fox News.
The fire department urged parents to discuss the risks with their children, highlighting the potential for severe burns, house fires, and permanent scarring. This incident adds to a list of dangerous TikTok trends, including children burning themselves with hot water while making noodles and drinking concentrated sodas.
