Risky “Salt and Ice” Challenge Burns Phoenixville Students

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 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.

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