One of the nation's most popular children's toys has become a major hazard to American youth.
Videos by Wide Open Country
NeeDoh, a cube-shaped squishy toy, can be smashed, stretched and squeezed for amusement.
However, when left in extreme temperatures, the children's toy poses a major health risk. Tragically, several youth have already been hospitalized as a result.
Usually, NeeDoh toys are filled with a gooey material that, when heated, can turn into a thick, molten substance. When the substance overheats, it can cause the toy to burst.
NeeDoh toys include a warning label on their packaging that reads "Do NOT heat, freeze, or microwave, may cause personal injury." However, doctors say some children are inspired to heat the toy to participate in social media trends.
Parents Warned to Be Diligent of Dangerous Social Media Trends
Dr. Alicia Webb, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Children's of Alabama, explained the risks that children face by doing so.
"Parents need to be aware of this trend. And all dangerous social media challenges because they can pose a serious risk to children, and the children participating are not yet mature enough to recognize the danger for themselves," she told the New York Post.
Webb continued, "The hot NeeDoh toys can easily explode, causing burns to the face, eyes, mouth, body, and can even cause internal damage if the hot substance is swallowed."
Such was the case for a 13-year-old girl in El Paso, who suffered severe burns while playing with the toy.
Katie Spence said that her daughter began playing with the toy after storing it in the car for four hours.
Before long, the toy burst and burned the child, leaving her in anguish.
"She jumps out of the car and she's like screaming at the top of her lungs like, 'please momma get it off,'" Spence told KRQE. "There were people all around. We were trying to get it off. They said don't take it off because it will rip her skin off. So then I rushed her to the nearest children's hospital."
According to Spence, the gel inside the toy caused third-degree burns on her daughter's arm and leg.
After the scary incident, Spence advised others not to make the same mistake.
"Don't warm it up, don't leave it in the sun, don't leave it in a car," warned Spence.
