9-year-old child suffers severe burns while doing a social media trend

A 9-year-old boy suffered serious injuries after participating in a recent social media trend. On the morning of January 20th, Caleb Chabolla was getting ready to go to school when he tried to heat the trendy toy, the NeeDoh Nice Cube by Schylling, in the microwave to test what he had been told, according to Loyola Medicine in a press release shared with PEOPLE.

Caleb’s mother, Whitney Grubb, said her son got the idea to try the trend after a conversation with a friend, who told him about the fashion on social media. She was in the garage warming up her car when she heard the microwave turn on and thought Caleb was warming up his breakfast.

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“After hearing what he described as a heartbreaking scream, he knew something was wrong,” he told the medical center, confirming that Caleb had tried to heat the popular sensory toy. When he opened the microwave, the object, “full of gelatinous material, exploded in his face and hands.” Grubb tried to rinse the substance off in the shower; however, it didn’t work. He was taken to the emergency room and then transferred to the Loyola Medicine Burn Center. He also visited an ophthalmologist to treat his eye, which was swollen. His vision was not affected and Caleb is now recovering at home, said Loyola Medicine. The Nice Cube is a “perfect sensory toy for stretching, squishing, squeezing, and soothing,” according to the official website. “DO NOT heat, freeze or microwave, may cause personal injury,” the site warns.

The child suffered second-degree burns on one side and on his hands, his mother told  CBS News. He is expected to return to school at the end of this week. Paula Petersen, APN, an advanced practice nurse from the burn center, commented in Loyola’s press release how Caleb is “very fortunate not to have suffered major injuries.” She added: “These trends can be extremely dangerous for young people who are less likely to consider or unable to understand the serious consequences.”

McElligott said that this is the fourth child who has come to the facility due to the repercussions of this trend. “Another little one who heated it in the microwave, put his finger in it, went through it, and burned it,” said McElligott, according to CBS News. He also confirmed to WGN9 that 30% of his patients are pediatric. “I think it’s common things in the home that are burning these children and we want to make sure parents are diligent about what’s in their house,” he said, citing the aforementioned toys, as well as “ramen noodles that are heated in the microwave and children spill on themselves, or when they pull hot coffee off the counter.”