Scarlet Rowe, 11, from Scotland, suffered severe burns near her left eye after a microwaved squishy toy exploded while she was attempting a viral social media trend.
The child was taken to hospital for emergency treatment and may require a skin graft as doctors continue to assess her recovery.
Toy manufacturer One for Fun said the product was not designed to be heated and plans to add a "Do Not Heat" warning to future packaging.
An 11-year-old girl from Irvine, Scotland, suffered severe burns near her left eye after a squishy toy exploded when she heated it in a microwave after seeing the practice online. The incident occurred on May 3 at her family home, where the toy reportedly burst and released hot contents onto her face. She was taken to hospital for treatment and may require a skin graft as doctors continue to assess her recovery.
Scarlet Rowe was in her family's kitchen when the incident occurred. Her mother, Gina Rowe, said family members heard screaming before finding the 11-year-old at a sink trying to rinse her eye with cold water.
The family initially believed the squishy toy had burst accidentally. They later learned that Scarlet had placed it in a microwave after watching online videos that showed users heating squishy toys to make them more pliable.
Scarlet was taken to University Hospital Crosshouse in Kilmarnock, where doctors treated burns around her eye. She was later referred for specialist assessment, and doctors are monitoring whether she may require a skin graft as the injury heals.
Heating squishy toys can cause the material inside to become extremely hot. If the toy bursts, the contents may spray onto the skin or eyes and cause burns.
In Scarlet Rowe's case, the toy reportedly exploded after being microwaved, leaving her with burns near her left eye. Eye injuries caused by hot substances can sometimes require specialist treatment, particularly when the surrounding skin is affected.
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Following the incident, toy manufacturer One for Fun said it would add a "Do Not Heat" warning to the packaging of the squishy toy and similar products. The company stated that the toy was not designed to be heated, microwaved, or altered.
Tesco, where the product had been purchased, said items of this type should not be placed in microwaves and encouraged customers to read safety information provided with children's products.
According to her family, Scarlet microwaved the toy after seeing similar videos online. The incident has drawn attention to online trends that encourage children to experiment with household items without fully understanding the potential risks.
Following the injury, One for Fun announced plans to add a "Do Not Heat" warning to the product, while Tesco reiterated that toys of this type should not be placed in microwaves.
(Rh/TP)
