Viral NeeDoh microwave trend leaves teen with third-degree burns
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An Alabama teenager and her family are warning about the dangers of a viral social media trend after she suffered third-degree burns when a microwave-heated sensory toy exploded.
Eli Blackmon, now 13, was 11 when he saw videos on TikTok of people putting NeeDoh soft toys in the microwave to soften them.
NeeDoh, a sensory toy that resembles a stress ball, is described on the company’s website as “a wonderful sphere filled with satisfying, super-soft, super-flexible dough.”
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“I thought it was harmless because an adult tried it and nothing happened,” he told Fox News Digital this week.
“When I took it off, my sister held it for a few minutes, then I was playing with it. As soon as I squeezed it, it exploded and the hot gel exploded onto my neck, chest and hands.”
An Alabama teenager and her family are warning about the dangers of a viral social media trend after she suffered third-degree burns when a microwave-heated sensory toy exploded. (Fallon Blackmon)
The hot gel caused third-degree burns on the boy’s neck and chest.
“I was distraught at first because I wasn’t sure what was going on because he was just screaming and not communicating,” the teenager’s mother, Fallon Blackmon, told Fox News Digital.
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“My husband is a firefighter and I work in emergency call response, so I had some knowledge of how serious the situation was. Frankly, that didn’t stop me from panicking on the inside.”
She said she was not aware of this trend before her child was injured.
“If I had been aware, we would have talked about not doing it.”
Eli Blackmon visited the burn unit weekly for four months, during which doctors scraped away dead skin and performed wound care. (Fallon Blackmon)
Eli Blackmon recalled feeling extreme pain following the injury.
“I thought I was going to die. I was telling my parents, ‘I don’t want to die, I’m sorry,’ and I was telling them I loved them.”
Blackmon was transported by ambulance to the local children’s hospital emergency room and then sent to the burn unit for wound care and debridement.
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“Given the severity of the burn, they would often recommend a skin graft, but they discounted it because of the respiratory risks,” his mother said.
Blackmon visited the burn unit weekly for four months, during which doctors scraped away dead skin and performed wound care.
Blackmon, a jiu-jitsu athlete, missed months of training and competitions due to his injury. (Fallon Blackmon)
“This was done with no painkillers or numbing, so all the follow-up appointments were very painful,” Fallon Blackmon said.
“As the wound started to heal and scar, they had to do chemical burns because granulation tissue had developed.”
“Don’t! This is so stupid! It causes so much pain.”
The teenager also developed a rash from the bandages, which quickly turned into a staphylococcal infection.
“Another problem was that the burn drained fluid from his body, which caused severe lower GI issues for months,” his mother said.
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Blackmon, a jiu-jitsu athlete, missed months of training and competitions due to his injury. The family also faced thousands of dollars worth of hospital bills, doctor bills and wound care supplies during the four months of care.
Blackmon recalled the incident: “I thought I was going to die. I was telling my parents, ‘I don’t want to die, I’m sorry,’ and I was telling them I loved them.” (Fallon Blackmon)
Now the teenager and her mother aim to help prevent other families from going through the same ordeal.
“If you buy these types of toys, please mention this trend and don’t do this,” he urged parents. “Kids at school hear about it from other kids, even if they don’t have social media.”
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Today, Blackmon tends to the scar every day to make sure it doesn’t cause any problems with neck mobility.
“I have to stretch, moisturize and massage every day,” she said.
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“It hasn’t changed my confidence much because all my friends and family are very supportive and tell me the scar is beautiful.”
Blackmon’s advice to other kids considering joining this social media trend is simple: “Don’t do it! It’s stupid! It causes too much pain and other problems.”
NeeDoh, a sensory toy that resembles a stress ball, is described on the company’s website as “a wonderful sphere filled with satisfying, super-soft, super-flexible dough.” (Whitney Grubb)
“Don’t trend anything on TikTok, even if you think it’s actually harmless,” he added. “Talk to your family.”
Blackmon’s mother agreed, stating that sharing the story online and receiving negative criticism from adults was worth it to prevent another child from being “scarred for life” and going through something so traumatic.
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A spokesperson for the TikTok USDS Joint Venture previously shared with Fox News Digital that any content that “encourages dangerous behavior” and could lead to serious injury is considered a violation of the platform’s Community Guidelines. The company claims that it immediately removes these videos as soon as they are found.
Fox News Digital reached out to the NeeDoh manufacturer requesting comment.
