Six children in the west of Scotland have sustained severe burns over the past eight months after heating popular squishy toys in microwaves, according to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.
Medical professionals report that pressure builds up inside the toys during heating, causing them to explode and release a hot internal gel that adheres to human skin.
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Online videos demonstrating the practice to make the toys softer have fueled the dangerous trend.
Parents Share Their Experiences
Gina, the mother of 11-year-old victim Scarlet Rowe from Irvine, explained that the family initially failed to recognize the severity of the injury following an incident in May.
"We didn't realise what had happened at first, it just looked like slime on her face.
It was only after a few minutes we realised it had been heated and was burning her skin," said Gina.
The physical impact on the young girl's face became rapidly visible as severe inflammation developed.
"The swelling was so bad that we weren't sure what the outcome would be," said Gina.
Although the injuries were severe and located near vital areas, the child managed to avoid surgical skin intervention.
"Thankfully, no graft was required but it is so close to her eye that this could have been a lot worse," said Gina.
Another parent, Stephanie Ewing from Clackmannanshire, recounted how her eight-year-old son Joseph Erskine required extensive medical care and a skin graft after a toy ruptured across his body in May.
