Hot water challenge
We have written about this before, but it would appear that the ‘game’ shows no signs of decreasing in its popularity.
It’s called “The Hot Water Challenge” and can often involve a group surprising one of their friends by pouring boiling hot water on them. It should go without saying that this has the potential to cause severe, sometimes even life-threatening burns.
There are still clips on Youtube of people playing the game, those where teens challenge each other regarding who can take the boiling water on their skin, or even drink it.
Tragically, it would appear the craze is particularly prominent amongst those of younger ages.
Last week, an 11-year-old Kentucky boy was left with horrific burns after his friends poured boiling water on him at a sleepover.
Incredible pain
The boy, Billy Oliver, suffered second and third-degree burns, according to WYMT. He now undergoing treatment at the Cincinnati Burn Center.
”When I first heard about it I was amazed,” said Dr. Susan Pollack, pediatrician at Kentucky Children’s Hospital.
”I mean, I am familiar with various things that people do that aren’t very wise. To burn someone is to inflict such incredible pain and suffering on them and I don’t think that is the intent.”
Billy was attacked with the boiling water after he went to bed early, while staying at his friend’s house.
”On a one, well on a zero to ten scale how bad it hurt, it was a ten,” Billy told WYMT.
The challenge involved either ingesting boiling water or throwing it at someone else, Billy said.
After hearing about the dangerous act, Billy’s sister Emily shared scary photos of his brother on Facebook.
These cases are far from isolated
”This is no joke if you are a parent please talk to your kids about this challenge my brother is in Cincinnati Children’s Hospital because of this and has to have surgery this challenge is not a game it’s dangerous,” she wrote.
Angela Guth, the mother of Billy’s friend, didn’t take Billy to hospital after the incident. Because of that, she now faces charges for second-degree criminal abuse and first-degree wanton endangerment, The Metro reports.
Sadly, these cases are far from isolated.
Two years ago, an 8-year-old girl died in Florida after drinking boiling hot water. An 11-year-old boy was also taken to hospital after his friends poured a pitcher of boiled water over him as he was sleeping.
This is an extremely dangerous trend that all parents should be watching out for.
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