On social networks, challenges of all kinds multiply. Many use water: drink as much as possible, swim as long as possible in ice water, have a bucket of ice water poured over your head and most recently, the hot water challenge which consists of receiving a bucket of ice water. scalding water on the face or body. A drift that leaves the firefighters speechless as the dangers are obvious.

It all started with the video-gags, where we saw Uncle Jojo bursting an inflatable pool filled with water, dripping all over the garden, without having done it on purpose, everyone laughs to see Uncle Jojo looking crestfallen and that makes millions of views.

Using this unlimited potential, some then had the idea of ​​making these gags by throwing buckets of water in the face or that of their relatives, their dog… same result. Internet users “like” and the number of views soar.

It seems that Internet users need to laugh, light things to watch, especially during these periods of confinement. Proof of this is that the YouTube channel which presents “The gags” produced by Just for Laughs, reached 2020 million subscribers in 10. It has thus become the most popular Canadian comedy channel on the social network.

Of course, when a media makes it possible to be seen, the stars come running. As for the hidden camera shows or hypnosis which is also all the rage, the stars have lent themselves to the game of the bucket of water. The win-win business, “I take a bucket of ice water, show I’m cool, and I’m seen by my fans” has started.

In the United States or Canada, some then used these gags to raise funds and support medical research. Oprah Winfrey, Justin Bieber, Britney Spears, Bill Gates or George Bush have given in to this madness across the Atlantic. Even the President of Canada, Justin Trudeau played the game.

In France, the phenomenon followed suit: athletes like Teddy Riner and Thiago Silva have already taken the plunge. Nikos Aliagas, Baptiste Giabiconi, Jean-Marc Morandini have also experienced it.

In the United States, the ice bucket challenge that raised millions of dollars for medical research. Corey Griffin, a young man of 27, co-creator of the Ice Bucket Challenge, raised 100 dollars for Charcot’s disease.

As often, funny and light challenges become less funny when stupidity gets involved. After the “Ice bucket challenge”, Internet users came up with the idea of ​​creating the Hot Water Challenge. Unlike the bucket of ice water, it is now hot water, which the person gets on the face or body and by surprise. Few people agree to be sprayed with boiling water of their own accord.

This extremely dangerous “game” has led to the hospitalization of several adolescents in the United States for serious burns after having tried the experiment.

According to Dr. Feldman, “Hot tap water can cause serious and even fatal burns. The risk of burns depends on the temperature of the water, the length of time the skin is exposed to water and the resistance of the skin to heat. At 49 ° C it takes 10 minutes to cause second degree burns while at 70 ° C one second is enough. At the same temperature, children burn themselves about four times faster than adults: water at 60 ° C burns a child’s skin in one second compared to 5 seconds for an adult ”.

Heart-rending screams, cries, reddened and blistered skin… the “challengers” do not seem to realize the scope of their gesture until much too late.

CBS, one of the main American television channels, reported on July 30, 2017, the story of Ki’ari Pope, an 8-year-old girl who died. Several months earlier, she had drunk boiling water through a straw to prove to her cousin that she was capable of doing it. The burns in his throat and his esophagus due to this gesture caused respiratory complications. She was buried on August 12, 2017.

If unfortunately you are the victim of this kind of challenge, you must first avoid applying cream or butter on the burn. It is a false belief. Never ice either, because it can on the contrary worsen the burn. The ice on the skin itself burns the tissue. It is therefore preferable to:

• Remove all clothing and diapers near the burned area. If tissue sticks to the skin, cool the area with lukewarm water and seek medical help;
• Run lukewarm water, not cold, over the burnt area for a few minutes;
• Apply a cool damp towel;
• Never burst the blisters;
• Cover the burnt area with a clean, dry cloth.

If the burn is severe, the SAMU or the fire brigade must be warned very quickly. The injured will be taken care of by the emergency services.