Explosives instead of games: challenges are spreading on social networks that leave children crippled
In today’s world, where information spreads at an incredible speed, children find themselves under the influence of dangerous trends in social networks. One of these challenges is the manufacture of homemade firecrackers according to instructions from the Internet, which has already led to numerous injuries and risks becoming a new threat to children’s health. This situation is particularly alarming for children who already live in a dangerous war-related environment. In such conditions, additional risk from dangerous challenges can have catastrophic consequences.
Dangerous DIYs
Social networks are becoming a platform for sharing videos where children demonstrate making homemade explosives. At first glance, these videos may seem like innocent fun, but there is a serious danger behind them. Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Ukraine warns, that such toys can lead to chemical burns, severe injuries and even mutilation. Children, blindly following popular videos, often do not understand the risks involved in such experiments and neglect basic safety rules.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs urges children not to repeat dangerous actions and to refuse offers to participate in similar challenges. At the same time, parents are recommended to pay more attention to the content their children watch. Parents should explain that such experiments can have tragic consequences. Talking about the dangers, browsing social networks together, and explaining the risks will help reduce the likelihood that a child will become a victim of another trend.
“Content is spreading online where children make homemade firecrackers. This leads to chemical burns, scars and long-term treatment. Such injuries can last a lifetime.
We urge children not to repeat dangerous actions, to refuse offers to participate in similar challenges and to tell their parents or teachers about such cases. Parents should pay attention to the content viewed by the child on social networks and explain the consequences of such dangerous experiments.
If you know of similar cases or the spread of other dangerous challenges – call 102″, – said the message of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Of particular concern is the fact that injuries resulting from such experiments can leave lifelong scars. This is not only physical, but also psychological pain, which will affect the child in the future. Chemical burns, damage to the face, hands or eyes are only the tip of the iceberg. In some cases, the consequences can be even more serious, including loss of limb function or disability. Participants of such challenges often end up in hospitals, where they undergo long-term and painful treatment.
Cases in Lviv Oblast
The Lviv City Council reported that three boys aged 10, 11 and 15 were hospitalized in Lviv during the last week, who were injured as a result of an improvised explosive device explosion. The children tried to make this dangerous construction using step-by-step instructions found on TikTok.
The children did not know each other, but they all made a homemade “firecracker” based on a popular video from the social network. According to medics, the boys used a plastic bottle, water, a foil ball and a pipe cleaner to create the explosives.
One of the injured boys admitted that he saw how other teenagers on the street made a similar “firecracker” according to instructions from the Internet, and decided to repeat it himself. He mixed all the ingredients and shook the bottle to activate the chemical reaction. As a result, the bottle exploded right in front of him and its contents landed on his face, causing serious injuries.
Head of the City Center for Thermal Injury and Burn Surgery, Halyna Sayan, reported that all the victims received deep chemical burns on their faces. According to her, the pipe cleaner used by the children causes serious damage to the skin and is most harmful to the eyes. All three boys will have scars on their faces that will remind them of this tragic incident
Parents and teachers should teach children to be critical of information that appears on the Internet. Often, children see only the fun side of such experiments, not realizing that serious injuries or even deaths can remain behind the scenes. The promotion of challenges through likes and views makes kids think it’s fun and safe, when in reality it can lead to tragedy.
This trend is especially dangerous in wartime, when children live in an environment filled with stress and uncertainty. The constant noise of sirens, shelling and the lack of the usual rhythm of life lead to the fact that children look for entertainment in social networks. This creates an ideal environment for the spread of dangerous content. In such conditions, the additional risk of injury due to homemade firecrackers only increases the overall danger.
