A teenager in St. Petersburg, Florida, has been hospitalized following an incident related to a dangerous social media challenge involving a jam jar and rubbing alcohol. Fire officials reported that the teen sustained burns while attempting to create a makeshift jet engine, which is part of a viral trend circulating online.
Dr. Jasmine Patterson, the medical director of the pediatric emergency room at Muma Children’s Hospital at Tampa General Hospital, emphasized the increase in patients treated for injuries stemming from social media challenges. She highlighted that the hospital has seen numerous cases of burns among adolescents aged between 14 and 18 years as a result of such dangerous activities.
Growing Concern Over Social Media Trends
Dr. Patterson noted that the trend of sustaining serious injuries from viral challenges has significantly escalated in recent years. “I’d say probably a few years ago is when I started to see the bad burns from these viral social media challenges and this new jar challenge. We’ve definitely treated some burns related to that,” she stated.
Videos circulating on social media platforms depict individuals filling a jam jar with rubbing alcohol and igniting it, creating a highly dangerous situation. “They’re seeing these challenges and thinking it looks pretty cool, and then they try it out,” Dr. Patterson explained. “The problem is it is burning in such a very high heat that often the glass actually melts or explodes,” she added.
This alarming trend has raised significant concerns among health professionals, prompting Dr. Patterson to urge parents to engage in active discussions with their children about the hazards of online trends.
Safety Recommendations for Parents
Dr. Patterson encourages parents to closely supervise their children and to initiate conversations regarding the potential risks involved in participating in online challenges. “You need to be proactive, start the conversation with your child that sometimes things are put on social media that are not safe for kids, not even safe for adults sometimes,” she advised.
She recommends that parents and children review these videos together, discussing their safety and deciding whether any challenges are worth attempting. “You need to be there for your kid and supervise any challenge,” Dr. Patterson concluded.
As social media continues to influence youth culture, the responsibility lies with both parents and guardians to ensure that children are aware of the dangers posed by certain online trends.
