The incident has prompted local officials to warn parents and children about the potentially life-threatening risks of such online challenges. A 9-year-old boy in New Orleans, Louisiana, suffered burns to more than 70 per cent of his body after reportedly attempting the dangerous social media trend known as the fire challenge.
New Orleans Fire Department Chief Roman Nelson described the boy’s injuries in a video released on Monday alongside New Orleans Police Department Chief Anne Kirkpatrick. The dangerous trend has been linked to serious burn injuries. Kirkpatrick urged children not to give in to peer pressure or participate in such stunts for social media attention. Al Hussey, the Wilmerding Borough fire marshal, urged parents to monitor their children’s access to household products and ignition sources, warning that everyday items can become dangerous when misused in online stunts.
The fire challenge involves a person using a flammable substance, such as rubbing alcohol or acetone, to set themselves on fire before attempting to extinguish the flames, according to a 2016 report published in the National Library of Medicine.
‘Kids, don’t fall for this gimmick and don’t feel peer pressure to take part in it,” she said, warning them against taking part in challenges that could put their lives at risk.
