A 10-year-old girl sustained severe burns to her face while imitating a viral TikTok trend that encourages kids to microwave squishy sensory toys. The incident resulted in her face being significantly burned and blistered, prompting doctors to urgently advise parents on the risks of burns, microwaves, and supervision. Little Violet explained that she wanted to soften the stress-relieving toy by heating it but was unaware of the potential dangers. When she removed the toy from the microwave, the hot liquid inside caused it to burst onto her face, leaving her in excruciating pain with skin peeling off.
Her father, engrossed in the FIFA World Cup at the time, had casually mentioned that heating the toy could make it more pliable, inadvertently leading to the unfortunate incident. He quickly called for an ambulance while his wife tried to alleviate Violet’s pain by running her face under cold water. Similar incidents involving squishy toys causing burns have been reported worldwide, with children in Australia, the US, and UK suffering similar injuries. Medical experts strongly advise against putting toys in microwaves and recommend immediate first aid, such as running the affected area under cool water for at least 20 minutes.
Furthermore, it was noted that the Needoh toy by Schylling carries a warning against heating it due to the risk of personal injuries. Similar cases of burns from heated squishy toys have been documented in the US and UK, underscoring the dangers associated with this trend. The Mirror reached out to TikTok for comments, with the platform stating that any content promoting hazardous behavior leading to serious injury violates their community guidelines and will be removed.
Authorities and safety experts emphasize the importance of educating children and parents about the potential risks of imitating online trends and the misuse of household appliances. Thankfully, Violet has made significant progress in her recovery without any lasting eye damage or scarring from the burns.
