A woman in Estonia has learned firsthand that not all popular social media “challenges” should be tried at home, writes ERR News.
Videos have become popular on TikTok and other social networks, showing users pouring boiling water into the air when the temperature has dropped below zero. Ideally, the water freezes while still in the air and “snows.”
Many who have succumbed to the temptation to try the trick have been injured, and Estonian Siret Krooben has joined the ranks of the victims. She said that when pouring water from a kettle, it should be poured away from her, but at some point the water spray turned towards her. The woman said that she had seen several videos on TikTok where the trick was successful. In her case, it ended with a visit to the Rakvere hospital and first- and second-degree burns on her face, shoulders, and chest. Jumping into the snow and trying to treat the burns at home didn’t help.
Krooben said
she wouldn’t be so stupid as to repeat it, and she also posted a warning on her social media accounts not to try the trick.
Hospitals around the world have reported burns from this and similar tricks involving boiling water. In some cases, boiling water has been poured on people who were unaware they were participating in the trick. A particularly tragic social media stunt ended a few years ago in Florida, when an eight-year-old child died after drinking boiling water through a straw.
Other potentially dangerous, popular social media tricks have involved eating ground cinnamon, rubbing salt and then ice on the skin (which causes burns), and inhaling deodorant. People are urged to always seek medical attention if they have suffered a burn. Also, applying ice or snow to burned areas can make the situation worse and should not be done.
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