Risky “Salt and Ice” Challenge Burns Phoenixville Students
The game can result in severe burns.
A dangerous new game that has caught on with teens but drawn alarm from health care experts is gaining a foothold at Phoenixville Middle School, NBC 10 is reporting.
After hearing students discuss what’s called the “Salt and Ice Challenge,” officials at Phoenixville Area Middle School sent a letter home to parents alerting them to the existence and risks of the strange pastime.
"Our goal is to provide you with this information in order to facilitate open communication at home to ensure the safety of our students," said Dr. Frank Garritano of the Phoenixville School District.
The challenge, which has been popularized on sites like Youtube, works like this: a participant pours salt on their skin and then presses an ice cube into it—holding it in place until the resulting burn is so severe they have to stop. After the ice cube is removed, or melts, it leaves behind a painful white scar.
“Perfect for deciding who gets the last piece of pizza,” boasts the game’s Urban Dictionary page.
See the complete story here.
Edvard Roperkov
2:22 pm on Monday, April 30, 2012
Oh come on, we have to thin out the herd somehow...
nameless citizen
3:10 pm on Monday, April 30, 2012
Nothing like printing a "how to" for the kids who haven't tried it yet.
Mike
5:27 pm on Monday, April 30, 2012
If you don't think the kids didnt already know how to do this, you're not just nameless you're clueless! Kids have been usuing computers since they were 2, you're still playing catch-up.
On the subject itself, stupid is as stupid does!
Laura S
3:29 pm on Monday, April 30, 2012
Reminds me of the kids at another school who were passing around Ambien so they could get high. Instead, they were passing out like those fainting goats. Er, kids, it's a sleeping pill. What did you think would happen?
Yuritzy Perednik
3:30 pm on Monday, April 30, 2012
Maybe if the benches were still in the children's plaza and the borough was more teen friendly, the need to find entertaining ideas on you tube would not be there.
In borough fashion; we should remove all the salt and ice from the markets....that should stop those pesky teens......
Michael Hill
8:15 am on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
The benches are being put back.
Interesting point, after the Community Cleanup volunteers spent hour’s power washing and cleaning the children's plaza I saw two boys throw cigarette buts on the ground, and spitting on the freshly cleaned bricks.
The answer is not the borough. How many trails and parks do we have, and a community center. I think it's time to stop blaming society. It was great to see children and teens at the Community Cleanup helping beatify Phoenixville. You tell me, what’s the difference between these two vastly different groups of teens.
Edvard Roperkov
9:54 am on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
You should of power washed the kids when you saw them do that :)
Michael Hill
2:53 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Here is a link to the story on the Community Cleanup: http://phoenixville.patch.com/blog_posts/phoenixville-pride-shines-during-community-clean-up-day
Notice that there is a good range of ages of the participants.
Laura S
5:58 pm on Monday, April 30, 2012
If this was a science project, required for a grade, none of the kids would be interested in participating.
imwatchingyou
11:36 am on Wednesday, May 2, 2012
In response to Mike Hills comment, the difference between these to groups of teens is PARENTING. Keep up the good work Michael. This is not a Boro or societal problem, it all starts at home.
rachael rowan
11:17 am on Sunday, May 6, 2012
kids will be kids- they have free will. ice and salt are easy to come by. if they want to burn their arms then let them! ...jeesh
Ike
8:50 am on Thursday, May 10, 2012
Kind of dumb thing to do ,but why make a big deal out of it.When we were kids , the things we as challenges were very dumb, i wont say , for i wouldnt want to gve these any ideas, but ones that you could get hurt bady or die.
As far as parents, yes some need to get in gear,BUT YOU CAN BE THE BEST PARENT ON EARTH AND STILL YOUR KID CAN TURN OUT DEMENTED, SICK, BAD, AND LIKE MOST KIDS DISRESPECTFULL. I think it has to do with no more whuppings.Take them back of the shed of wack em with a cattynine tail, like back in the real olds days...i hate disrespectfull kids,, they grow up to be smart azz adults.
Josephine
11:09 pm on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
I did this challenge, just today. HOLY JESUS! When I saw my arm afterwards..... Never again.. Scared the s**t out of me! o_____0