How to Talk to Kids About Dangers of 'Fire Challenge'

This image from a compilation video of “fire challenges” shows a teenager after igniting flammable liquid on her body. She put the fire out quickly, but other teens have been severely injured or killed while attempting the challenge. (Abdul/World Star Hip Hop)

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Just because a challenge is trending on social media doesn’t mean it’s a good idea, the Oakland County Health Division is reminding area residents.

Challenges range from the harmless “ice bucket challenge” to raise money for ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, research, to the “fire challenge,” a dangerous exercise in which people douse themselves in an accelerant, ignite it, put out the fire, and then post the video online and challenge friends to do the same.

One teenager died and another was seriously injured in unrelated fire challenges, according to reports.

The Health Division says it’s important that parents be aware of their children’s online activities, as well as discuss with them the dangers of the fire challenge. Some talking points:

Dangers of the fire challenge include:

• Having items such as clothing being melted to skin;
• Not being able to put the fire out quickly;
• Second- and third-degree burns causing hospitalization;
• There have even been deaths reported of people who took the challenge;
• Lighting surroundings on fire.

What can parents do?

• Become informed on the warning signs and risks of this activity;
• Talk to their children about the impact of burn injuries and participating in unreasonable risks;
• Monitor use of social media; outlets such as Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook cause the latest trends to travel at lightning speed;
• Understand that the brain in individuals under the age of 25 are still developing, meaning rewards and risks are not processed the same way as adults;
• Model healthy risk taking and thrill seeking;
• Provide opportunities for thrill seeking behaviors in healthy ways;
• Flag dangerous YouTube videos.

» For more information on the fire challenge, click here or here.