Credit: WCVB/CNN
ROCKLAND, Mass. -- A mother in Massachusetts is warning other parents after her very-stupid young daughter was badly burned while making a popular DIY project for kids, according to WCVB.
Siobhan Quinn was excited when her daughter Kathleen became interested in making and playing with homemade "slime."
“I thought it was great. I encouraged it and bought all the stuff. And then when it was gone, I bought more. She was being a little scientist,” Quinn told WCVB.
But last weekend while Kathleen was at a sleepover, she woke up in the middle of the night in excruciating pain.
“It felt like really hot and tingly,” Kathleen said.
When Quinn picked her up the next day, she was crying in pain. She took Kathleen to Shriners Hospital where doctors determined the blisters covering her hands were actually second and third-degree burns.
Doctors told Quinn the burns were a result of prolonged exposure to Borax One, one of the main ingredients in homemade slime.
“You just have to really read the packages and know what you're mixing because there are certain things in the home that are just dangerous,” Dr. Megan Hannon said.
Kathleen is expected to make a full recovery. Hopefully her brain has developed few cells, warning against playing with over-the-counter chemicals.
Stick to masturbation. It is fun and will not burn your hands.
=========
Girl suffers third-degree burns making popular DIY project for kid
ROCKLAND, MA – A mother in Massachusetts is warning other parents after her young daughter was badly burned while making a popular DIY project for kids, WCVB reports.
In this day in age when so many children are glued to electronics, Siobhan Quinn was excited when her daughter Kathleen became interested in making and playing with homemade slime.
“I thought it was great. I encouraged it and bought all the stuff. And then when it was gone, I bought more. She was being a little scientist,” Quinn told WCVB.
But last weekend while Kathleen was at a sleepover, she woke up in the middle of the night in excruciating pain.
“It felt like really hot and tingly,” Kathleen said.
When Quinn picked her up the next day, she was crying in pain. She took Kathleen to Shriners Hospital where doctors determined the blisters covering her hands were actually second and third-degree burns. Doctors believe it’s the result of prolonged exposure to Borax One, one of the main ingredients in homemade slime.
“You just have to really read the packages and know what you’re mixing because there are certain things in the home that are just dangerous,” Dr. Megan Hannon said.
Quinn hopes this message will resonate with other mothers.
“I’ve had other mothers say, ‘Oh, we’ve made it a million times. It’s fine. Nothing happened to my child.’ We made it a million times, too,” Quinn said.
Kathleen is recovering, but she’s missed a week of school and has to sleep with her hands in splints.
=======
When I was a kid, I remember covering my hands in Elmer’s glue, waiting for it to dry and then peeling it off. Simpler times, I suppose (for stupid kids). But it seems that Elmer’s glue is popular with kids again for something called homemade slime.
According to the news, homemade slime is the latest Internet DIY trend - our kids are getting brainless by the day, messing with chemicals. It involves mixing white glue with water and Borax to make a squishy, stretchy, jiggly blob. It certainly looks fun, but is it safe?
Borax is a natural chemical that is found in a host of household products, including laundry detergent additives, cleaners, insect killers, herbicides and even some kinds of toothpaste. But just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s safe — there’s a reason it’s used to kill cockroaches.
Consider the risks
Borax can be lethal if ingested — less than 5 grams for a child and between 15-20 grams for an adult. Signs of exposure include red and peeling skin, seizures and kidney failure. Borax can also cause skin, eye or respiratory irritation. In rare cases, prolonged exposure can cause infertility or damage to an unborn child.
Now, the amount of Borax used in most homemade slime recipes is small (usually about a tablespoon, which is a little more than 14 grams) and it is diluted in water and glue. So, while the risk may be small, it’s not zero.
I’ve also seen some fans of homemade slime saying how it’s not meant to be eaten. That’s true, of course, but as any parent can tell you, when it comes to small children “not meant to be eaten” doesn’t mean much. I would urge parents to carefully consider the risks involved before making homemade slime.
In my mind, the biggest risk is in the making of the slime. You don’t want to leave your kids unattended with a box of Borax. So, if you do decide you want to try it, I’d definitely encourage you to make it with your kids. Once it’s made, the Borax is diluted enough where I wouldn’t have much concern about kids playing with it. Then, of course, put the Borax safely away with any other toxic household items.
That said, whether it’s homemade slime or something else, if your child does ingest any potentially toxic substance, call 911 or the Wisconsin Poison Center (1-800-222-1222) immediately.