A West Virginia teen sustained burns to her thighs after a squishy toy, akin to popular mystery dumplings or NeeDoh cubes, exploded in a hot car, according to a report from KDKA.
Kim Staggs, the child's parent, stated that her daughter, Natalee, was riding in the back seat of a car that had unknowingly contained one of the gelatinous toys. The vehicle's interior, acting as a solar oven, caused the toy to heat up, weaken, and expand. When Natalee sat down, the toy burst, coating her legs in what was identified as silicone.
"We weren’t even a mile up the road, and she just lets out this blood-curdling scream," Staggs told KDKA. "My heart sank."
Natalee was taken to the hospital, where medical professionals treated her burns with cooling agents and saline. Staggs expressed relief that the injuries were not more severe, noting that a nurse told her she was "blessed" as a different type of toy could have caused more serious harm, potentially to the face.
Staggs is now cautioning other parents about the potential hazards of leaving such toys in vehicles during warm weather. "If we can put a stop to it, that’s the goal right there," she said.
This incident follows a trend where children have microwaved similar toys, leading to explosions. In May, a 10-year-old girl in the UK reportedly suffered burns to her face after microwaving a NeeDoh cube. Her mother described the incident as "traumatizing."