Girl, 11, Nearly Blinded and Severely Burned After a Microwaved Squishy Toy ‘Exploded’ in Her Face

**Mother Issues Warning After Daughter’s Near-Fatal Incident with Squishy Toy**

A mother from Irvine, Scotland, has issued a stark warning to other parents after her 11-year-old daughter sustained serious injuries while attempting to follow a dangerous social media trend. Scarlet Rowe suffered significant burns and nearly lost her sight after microwaving a squishy toy in an effort to make it more pliable.

Gina Rowe was alerted to the incident on May 3 when she heard her daughter screaming from the kitchen. Rushing to her side, she found Scarlet in distress, running cold water over her eye. “It’s in my eye,” the young girl cried, prompting Gina to wipe the glittery slime away to assess the damage. To her horror, the mother discovered that Scarlet’s squishy toy had exploded while being heated in the microwave.

Gina, a mother of six, explained that the incident unfolded just moments after Scarlet had microwaved the toy, claiming she had only done so for ten seconds. “She squeezed it, and it exploded straight up into her left eye,” Gina recounted, expressing her shock over the incident that had unfolded so quickly.

Immediately concerned for her daughter’s well-being, Gina rushed Scarlet to the emergency room. Doctors later advised the family that while the current treatment was ongoing, it remained uncertain whether Scarlet would require a skin graft. “They’re waiting for the swelling to go down to see whether she’ll need to go down the route of a skin graft, but hopefully we won’t have to,” Gina said. The nature of Scarlet’s injuries left her with open wounds and blisters, and the family hoped for the best regarding her recovery.

Scarlet revealed to her parents that she had been inspired by a trend she saw online, but she was unaware of the dangers involved. Gina, reflecting on the incident, urged caution among parents regarding their children’s exposure to social media trends. “She could’ve lost her sight and potentially been blind,” Gina remarked, expressing her concern. In light of the incident, she has removed all squishy toys from their home. “Don’t be naive in thinking your child won’t do it. It happens in the blink of an eye,” she cautioned.

In response to this alarming incident, One for Fun, the manufacturer of the squishy toy, released a statement expressing their awareness of the injury and reinforcing the importance of safety. The company clarified that their products are not designed or intended to be heated or altered in any way. “Existing safety guidance advises against misuse,” their statement read.

The toy company extended their sympathy to Scarlet and her family while urging parents and caregivers to supervise children closely while using toys. “We strongly urge parents to discourage participation in potentially dangerous social media challenges or trends,” the statement concluded. The company further admitted that while such misuse could not have been reasonably anticipated, a “Do Not Heat” warning will now be added to the product and similar items moving forward.

This incident serves as a harsh reminder of the potential dangers associated with social media trends, particularly for impressionable young children. The Rowe family’s experience highlights the crucial need for open dialogues between parents and children about online safety and the risks involved in following potentially harmful trends.

As they await answers regarding their daughter’s recovery, Gina Rowe hopes to raise awareness of the dangers that lurk behind seemingly innocent online challenges. She encourages other parents to remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding their children from hazardous trends that could pose a serious threat to their health and safety.