7-Year-Old Girl In Coma After Squishy Toy
Dangerous Trend Leads to Serious Injury
Seven-year-old Scarlett Selby from Festus, Missouri, suffered severe burns and was put into a coma after a squishy toy exploded on her while trying a risky social media trend. Inspired by TikTok videos, Scarlett froze a NeeDoh cube and then microwaved it briefly to soften it. When she took it out, it “exploded all over her chest, mouth and chin,” her father Josh said. The hot goo caused second and third-degree burns, leaving Scarlett with “profound” scars and requiring a week-long hospital stay.
Parents’ Terrifying Experience
Josh rushed to help after hearing Scarlett’s “blood-curdling scream.” He tried wiping off the sticky substance but it was so thick it stuck to his hands and her clothes. “I ripped her shirt off of her because it was stuck to her shirt as well,” he said. Scarlett’s mother Amanda recalled the drive to the hospital: “She was still screaming when we got to the hospital… It was terrible how scared she was and how much that hurt her.” The family is urging others to throw away these toys to prevent similar accidents.
Warnings and Concerns
The toy manufacturer Schylling Toys posts a warning online: “Do NOT heat, freeze, or microwave, may cause personal injury.” Josh emphasized, “The product that’s in it is like glue so you essentially have hot glue exploding on you.” He criticized how the toy is marketed, saying, “If something can explode like that, it definitely shouldn’t be frozen.”
Social Media Response
TikTok and YouTube prohibit content showing dangerous behaviors. TikTok uses technology to detect spikes in risky trend videos, while YouTube bans videos of children doing harmful challenges. Both platforms claim user safety is a top priority and remove dangerous content quickly.
