Birmingham Children’s Hospital Burns Centre have issued a warning following an increase in the number of children being treated for burns after watching a popular Netflix series.
Popular Netflix series, ‘Squid Game’ has inspired a new TikTok craze called the ‘honeycomb’ or ‘dalgona’ challenge where players must break a honeycomb treat into a template shape. Experts at Children’s Hospital Burns Centre have have issued a warning to families after a worrying increase in the number of young people suffering with burns-related injuries associated with cooking the honeycomb treat without supervision.
To take part, children have been attempting to cook the Korean honeycomb treat, in some cases unsupervised which is why we are encouraging parents at home to speak with children to warn of the real dangers associated with the social media trend. We advise that children should be accompanied by an adult if they want to use the oven hob or heat that could have the potential to cause serious injuries.
The challenge involves combining a mixture of sugar and baking soda over heat, such as an oven hob to create the dalgona candy seen in the 15 age-rated series. With sugar having the ability to reach a higher temperature than water, the mixture can reach up to 160 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees higher than that of boiling water. The syrupy sticky texture also sticks to the skin increasing the likelihood of blistering and skin damage.
Mr Oliver Sawyer, Consultant Burns and Plastic Surgeon at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We’re really worried after seeing several children with very deep skin injuries caused by scalds linked to this social media trend. Given the very high boiling point of the substance any scalds do really have potential to cause serious scarring.
“We’d warn against anyone doing this because of the damage it can potentially cause but, as with any form of cooking, children should never be unaccompanied. In just a few seconds an accident could lead to life-changing and lasting injuries.”
To prevent against potential burns-related accidents, you can take simple precautions to ensure safety is achieved. This includes positioning all saucepan or frying pan on the back burner/hob where possible and being sure that all handles face inwards to stop them from being knocked resulting in spillages.
If you or a child sustains an injury from boiling sugar water, clinicians’ advice that all clothing touched by the substance is removed, the affected area is immediately submerged in cold water and medical assistance is sought.
