Hot Car Toy Hazard
Squishy Toys Exploding in Hot Cars Pose Burn Risk; West Virginia Teen Injured
A West Virginia family is warning parents after a squishy doll exploded in a hot car and burned their 13-year-old daughter, according to WVVA. The toy had to be removed at the emergency room, where medical staff doused it in saline to peel it away from her skin. She suffered minor burns.
The incident is part of a growing pattern. WAVE3 reports that children and teens across the country have needed emergency medical treatment after squishy toys overheated and burst. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has now received dozens of reports from the public about these toys.
TikTok Fame Fueled a Squishy Toy Explosion
Squishy toys have become wildly popular in recent years. Viral TikTok videos sent sales surging. The toys come in many forms — soft plastic dolls, rubber animals, silicone food shapes, and more. Kids love squeezing them. But their soft materials are exactly what makes them dangerous in heat, according to KXII.
The toys are designed to slowly return to their shape after being squeezed. That same flexible material can trap heat and build pressure fast. When a car bakes in summer sun, interior temperatures can climb well above 130°F. That is hot enough to push these toys past their limits, KALB reported.
West Virginia Girl Burned After Toy Bursts in Car
The West Virginia family's experience shows just how serious this risk is. Their teenage daughter was riding in a hot car when her squishy doll suddenly exploded. The hot material stuck to her skin. She had to go to the emergency room, where staff used saline solution to safely remove the toy, according to WVVA.
The burns were described as minor, but the family says the experience was frightening. They went public with the story to warn other parents. WITN noted that the toy looked completely normal before it burst — there was no visible warning sign that it was about to fail.
Safety Agency Collects Dozens of Similar Reports
This is not a one-time event. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has received dozens of reports about squishy toys bursting and injuring children, according to WAFF. The reports describe burns and injuries similar to the West Virginia case. Officials have not yet announced a formal recall.
KKTV reports that the injuries tend to happen the same way each time — a child picks up a toy left in a hot car, and it bursts on contact. The hot liquid or gel inside sprays out and sticks to skin. Parents are urged to remove all squishy toys from vehicles before leaving them parked in the sun.
What Parents Should Do Right Now
The fix is simple. Do not leave squishy toys in parked cars during warm weather. If a toy was left in a hot car, do not hand it to a child right away. Let it cool fully before anyone touches it, according to KCBD.
Parents should also check toys for any signs of swelling or deformation after heat exposure. A bloated squishy toy is a warning sign that pressure has built up inside. Fox34 advises storing these toys indoors and keeping them out of direct sunlight. If a child is burned by a toy, seek medical care right away.
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