By Tenley Woodman
The Boston Herald
BOSTON — Parents, you might want to keep the kids out of the kitchen.
Table salt and ice cubes are the latest tools in thrill-seeking teens’ bad-idea arsenal. Known as the ‘salt and ice challenge,’ the dare has kids sprinkle an area of their skin with salt, press an ice cube on top, and see how long they can withstand the pain. Many upload their feat on YouTube to compare with other challenge-takers.
But while the pain may be temporary, the game is not harmless.
‘The potential danger is that it can cause frostbite, which can lead to permanent scarring or tissue loss, depending upon what part of the body is involved,’ said Dr. Anne Stack, clinical chief of emergency medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Darius Drain, 17, of Dorchester tried the salt-and-ice challenge two years ago.
‘I wouldn’t do it again,’ said Drain, an incoming senior at the Urban Science Academy.
Drain held ice and salt to his forearm for 40 seconds. It resulted in a mark the size of two quarters. It took a week for the discoloration to subside.
‘If you’ve ever had frostbite, that is what it feels like. My skin was red and it was peeling,’ Drain said.
Classmate Deven Robinson also tried the test several years ago.
‘I got tricked into doing it. I didn’t know it was going to be painful,’ said the 17-year-old.
Last month a 12-year-old boy in Pittsburgh, Pa., took the challenge - for 20 minutes. It resulted in severe blistering and sores.
The dare is one of several risk-taking tests and games with a YouTube following. Others include swallowing a spoonful of cinnamon without choking.
Drain didn’t post his experience online, but admitted it was where he got the idea.
Mina Tsay, assistant professor at the College of Communication at Boston University, said social media has changed the concept of entertainment.
‘What is interesting with social media is there is this bandwagon effect,’ said Tsay. ‘If these videos get a lot of hits, it’s positive reinforcement. They are getting popular from these novelty videos.’
Some ‘salt and ice challenge’ videos have upward of 800,000 views. Tsay said it is unlikely these challenge videos will go away anytime soon.
‘The people who produce these videos are constantly validated by the public. People are getting enjoyment from watching them do these things,’ she said.
Copyright 2012 Boston Herald Inc.
All Rights Reserved