‘Fire challenge’ becomes notorious social media trend
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MANILA, Philippines –Will you set yourself on fire just to become popular on social media?
Apparently, some teenage Americans are willing to do just that for the thrill and more friends or followers. Videos of their take on the challenge are becoming viral on video sharing sites like YouTube, Facebook, Vine and Instagram.
Those who accept the fire challenge record themselves pouring some sort of flammable liquid onto their bodies, then setting themselves on fire. They do this in the bathroom or near the pool as a “precaution” so they can easily extinguish the fire.
That, however, hasn’t always been the case.
The latest victim, a 16-year-old boy from Kansas, in a failed attempt to do the fire challenge on Saturday, poured rubbing alcohol on his chest and set himself on fire.
In a report by Fox8.com, the victim, whose identity was withheld from reporters, suffered first- and second-degree burns on his face, neck and hips, but is now in stable condition.
Aside from the possibility of suffering from first- to third-degree burns, igniting one’s self may cause individuals to “inhale superheated gases which will destroy their lung tissue,” Orange County Fire Authority Captain Larry Kurtz said in an interview with CBS.
No reports, however, have stated that this dangerous trend has already reached the Philippines.
(Disclaimer: The INQUIRER.net discourages readers from doing this and similar acts.)
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