Most trends on social media are harmless fun, but some can be truly dangerous. Unfortunately, a 7-year-old girl from Missouri, Scarlett Selby, was injured after following a TikTok trend. Instead of microwaving food, Scarlett decided to microwave a popular toy called NeeDoh. According to the trend, freezing and then heating the toy would make it more pliable. However, this turned out to be a risky mistake. The toy exploded, causing severe burns to Scarlett’s skin.
When the incident occurred, the girl’s father was nearby and quickly noticed her pained screams. Seeing the substance covering her, he swiftly removed the clothing to prevent further burns before bringing her to St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “It all happened so quickly. I heard her scream, and it was like a blood-curdling scream,” Josh Selby said. He mentioned that the NeeDoh substance was like goo and stuck to his hand, forcing him to rip off the clothing.
The Missouri girl was in excruciating pain, continuing to scream even after arriving at the hospital. Doctors made the decision to place her in an induced coma for three days to help manage the pain and allow her body to heal. They were particularly concerned that the burns in her mouth could cause swelling and block her airways. Scarlett was also given a feeding tube during her stay, as her lips had been severely burned.
A Painful Lesson
Although the scarring from her burns was severe, the doctors decided against giving her a skin graft. Her mother felt that it might still be necessary in the future, considering how severe the scarring is. The parents agreed to wait a couple of years to see how Scarlett’s body grows, and then they would decide whether to perform a skin graft. “We’re still putting creams and silicone ointments on it daily — they’re such profound scars that stick up off of her skin,” her mother said.
A representative from the NeeDoh manufacturer warned that microwaving, heating, or freezing the toy is dangerous and could result in injury. They stated that they have contacted social media platforms to have videos promoting this trend removed. Additionally, the company has added a warning to both their packaging and website to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Many people expressed their sorrow, agreeing that this tragedy could have been prevented. While social media has become an integral part of everyday life, parents must remain vigilant about both their children’s online activities and the content they engage with. “Get that girl away from social media!!! Parents need to parent!” one Facebook user commented.
