MAYNARD–Chief Anthony Stowers would like to warn parents of a new viral teen video that may result in fire incidents.
State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey released an advisory today to inform the general public of two incidents that have taken place in Massachusetts. Though there have not been any reports of incidents involving these “challenges” taking place in Maynard, officials would like parents to be aware of the new challenge.
The challenge seen on the popular video app, TikTok, involves partially inserting the plug part of a phone charger into an outlet and sliding a penny down the wall onto the exposed prongs. This action results in sparks and can cause electrical system damage and, in some cases, a fire. To view the video of the challenge click here.
“Online challenges such as this one tempt children to participate in dangerous activities,” said Chief Stowers. “If parents suspect their children to be involved in this trend, we recommend that they look for any burnt outlets or outlets that seem to be tampered with. Damaged outlets can be dangerous and may cause a fire.”
Chief Stowers would like to provide the following electrical fire safety tips from the U.S. Fire Administration:
- Insert plugs fully into sockets.
- If you have young children, install tamper-resistant electrical outlets.
- Replace wall outlets if plugs do not fit tightly.
- Do not overload outlets.
- Never force a three-pronged plug into a two-slot outlet.
In addition to electrical fire safety, Chief Stowers would like to remind parents and children to discuss the dangers of certain online challenges and trends and recognizing dangerous activity on the internet.
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