The Fire Challenge

Challenge:  While the camera is filming, the participant applies a flammable liquid, such as aerosol sunscreen, to their body and then sets the liquids on fire.  Videos are then posted to popular social media sites to gain a viral reaction.  Firefighters, police officers and media sources have criticized the behavior and spoken out against the trend, in an effort to discourage individuals from trying this extremely dangerous activity. Dangers of the Fire Challenge are clear and obvious,  resulting in all degrees of burns.

Participants usually run in panic with the flames still ignited. The increase in air flow and oxygen result in a rapid increase in flames. Smoke inhalation and lung damage are other immediate dangers.

 

The Cinnamon Challenge

Challenge: Participants attempt to swallow a spoonful of ground cinnamon in less than a minute without drinking any water. The challenge is impossible to complete, therefore the only outcome is a video of the haphazard attempt and the potential to cause damage to your respiratory system. Dry cinnamon coats the throat and mouth, which can lead to gagging, vomiting and inhalation of the powder into the lungs. In the span of 3 months of this challenge’s inception, the U. S. Poison control centers received more than 120 emergency calls related to the “game.” Some suffered lung scarring, emphysema, and collapsed lungs.

 

The Salt and Ice Challenge

Challenge: Participants pour salt on their skin, then place an ice cube on top producing a chemical reaction that burns the skin. The goal is to withstand the ensuing pain for as long as possible. When combined with salt, ice actually becomes colder than the standard freezing temperature of water, exposing the body to extreme cold and potentially freezing the skin’s surface. There have been reports of children as young as 12 sustaining 2nd and 3rd-degree burns and in extreme cases, amputation has been considered as the damage was severe.

 

The Condom Challenge

Challenge: The participant inserts a condom into their nostril, inhaling until it reaches the back of the throat. The condom is then pulled out through the mouth. This poses an extremely dangerous choking hazard due to the material the condom is made from. Doctors have expressed their concerns in regards to this challenge as latex can withstand a vast amount of pressure. If the condom becomes lodged in the throat, there could be difficulty retrieving it.

 

The Eraser Challenge

Challenge: Participants vigorously rub an eraser against the skin while simultaneously reciting a word for each letter of the alphabet. The result is often a bleeding wound, that can scar or become infected. Children often share erasers after the skin has been broken transmitting body fluids and bacteria. 

 

I-Dose Challenge

Challenge: In the age of technology, it’s not surprising that entrepreneurs are trying to create a way to get high legally and online. The result is a phenomenon called “I-dosing,” which is the attempt to alter consciousness via sound. The Internet craze is driven by specially created “beats” that when teens listen via headphone, the MP3s are said to have effects similar to getting high on drugs. Users can choose from the various tracks based on the specific high the actual drug would create. Anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes long, the tracks consist of binaural beats, which are used to alter brain function. Similar to music that is created for meditation to soothe the user, these beats are the extreme version. To properly achieve the altered state the user must listen to the beat at the highest volume possible. The exposure to the sounds at this high decibel level can result in immediate damage to the ear canal or loss of hearing.