Microwaved Squishies Explode
Doctors Issue Global Warning as Microwaved Squishy Toys Explode, Burning Children
Key Points
11-year-old Scarlet Rowe from Irvine sustained burns to her face and eyelid after microwaving a squishy toy; swelling was severe but her family said no graft was required.
Eight-year-old Joseph Erskine sustained burns across his chest and hand when a squishy toy burst in the microwave; surgeons took skin from his thigh to graft onto his chest.
Thermal dynamics experts say internal moisture and chemical gels in squishies heat rapidly and can reach about 93°C in under 15 seconds, causing the toy to rupture and spray boiling gel onto the skin.
Medical professionals have issued urgent worldwide warnings about the trend, noting it is spreading through online videos and social media and is linked to serious injuries in children.
In Joseph Erskine’s graft, the skin used to cover the burn was taken from his thigh, and doctors note the grafted area will require sun protection for two years.
Six children have been treated for serious burns at Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Children after microwaving gel-filled 'squishy' toys that exploded and sprayed boiling gel on their skin, according to Glasgow Live. The injuries happened over eight months, with some children requiring skin grafts. Doctors are now urging parents to warn their kids about the trend, which is spreading fast through social media videos.
The gel inside these toys can reach 93°C — near boiling — in under 15 seconds when microwaved, according to The Scottish Sun. Unlike hot water, the gel sticks to skin and keeps burning through layers of tissue. Surgeons have compared it to napalm.
Eight-Year-Old Needs Skin Graft After Toy Explodes
Joseph Erskine, 8, from East Kilbride, put a Squishy Steam Bun in the microwave. When he took it out, it burst. Boiling gel sprayed across his chest and right hand. He was rushed to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, according to Manchester Evening News.
Joseph needed a four-hour surgery. Surgeons took skin from his thigh to graft onto his chest. Doctors say he must protect the grafted skin from direct sunlight for at least two years. His mother, Cheryl Erskine, said he "has been so brave" but still has a long road ahead, The Scottish Sun reported.
Facial Burns Leave 11-Year-Old Scarlet With Swollen Eyelid
Scarlet Rowe, 11, from Irvine, tried the same trend in March 2024. She microwaved a squishy toy for just a few seconds. It exploded near her face. She was treated for burns to her cheek and eyelid at the same Glasgow hospital, according to Daily Star.
Her mother, Kelly Rowe, said the toy was barely in the microwave before it blew up. The swelling was severe, but the family said no skin graft was needed. Scarlet was one of six children treated for these injuries in just eight months, Glasgow Live reported.
Why the Gel Burns Worse Than Boiling Water
The toys are made of a thermoplastic rubber shell filled with chemical gel. When microwaved, moisture inside turns to steam. Pressure builds until the outer shell ruptures. The gel inside can hit 93°C in under 15 seconds, according to Express.
Regular boiling water runs off skin. This gel sticks. It keeps burning through layers of tissue until it is cooled or scraped off. That is why these injuries are so deep, and why some children need surgery. Consultant plastic surgeon Sharon Deans at RHC Glasgow warned that "these toys are not intended to be heated," Manchester Evening News reported.
Social Media Videos Are Driving the Trend Among Kids
Videos showing children microwaving squishy toys have spread widely on TikTok and YouTube. Kids watch them and copy what they see. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has called the trend a "significant safety risk" and issued a formal public health warning in June 2024, according to Daily Star.
Many of the toys involved are unbranded or sold through platforms like Amazon, Temu, and AliExpress. Some may lack the safety markings required under UK Toy Safety Regulations. Cheryl Erskine urged all parents to talk to their children now. "They see it as harmless fun," she said, "because that's how it looks on their screens," The Scottish Sun reported.
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