Teens Coming To Parkland Hospital With Burns From "Fire Challenge"
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DALLAS (1080 KRLD) - Dallas's Parkland Hospital is seeing a spike in teenage burn patients, as they participate in the latest social media craze.
It's known as the "fire challenge". Teens anywhere from age 13 to college-age are making videos which show them pouring lighter fluid onto themselves and then being set on fire. Then, they try to put the flames out as quickly as possible by jumping into the shower or a pool.
"But what you don't see when the video stops rolling is the burn injuries they can and do sustain," says Stephanie Campbell, an RN in Parkland's burn center. "Typically its to their torso, or neck, or face area."
The fire challenge first became popular in 2014. It disappeared for awhile, but has since started to go viral again.
"Teens and young adults seem to like the attention they get from it, the likes and the shares," says Campbell. "It's alarming to us. Burn injuries are injuries for a lifetime."
Parents are encouraged to talk with their teens about the dangers of the fire challenge, and of other challenges made popular on social media. Teens are encouraged to not like, share, or interact with videos of the challenge.
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