24/09/2026
Lots of young people in Merthyr and surrounding areas are doing this, please talk to your children 👍
The "Salt and Ice Challenge" is a dangerous social media trend that causes severe cold burns (cryogenic burns) and permanent tissue damage.
While it is often treated by children as a test of endurance for likes online, the chemical reaction it creates poses severe risks to their physical health.
Why It Causes Severe Burns
When table salt is applied to the skin and pressed down with an ice cube, the salt dramatically lowers the freezing point of the ice. This creates an ultra-cold slush (an eutectic mixture) that can rapidly drop to temperatures as low as −18°C (0°F).
The hazard is highly amplified because:
• The ice numbs the skin: The extreme cold quickly numbs the nerve endings, masking the pain.
• Delayed awareness: Because they cannot feel the damage occurring, children often leave the mixture on their hands or arms far too long, unaware that they are sustaining deep tissue injuries.
Medical Risks and Consequences
The injuries resulting from this challenge are equivalent to severe frostbite or thermal burns. They frequently result in:
• Second and third-degree burns: The skin blisters, turns raw, and destroys deep epidermal layers.
• Permanent scarring and nerve damage: Many children are left with lifelong scars and localized loss of sensation.
• Hospitalisation and skin grafts: Severe cases require treatment in specialized burn units, surgical removal of dead tissue, and skin grafting to heal.
Immediate First Aid Advice
If a child has just participated in this challenge, follow these immediate first-aid steps recommended by health organizations like GPS Healthcare:
1. Rinse immediately: Gently flush the affected area under lukewarm running water for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Do not use hot water, which can worsen tissue shock.
2. Avoid DIY remedies: Do not apply regular ice, heavy creams, ointments, or fluffy gauze/cotton dressings that can stick to the wound.
3. Protect the area: Cover the burn loosely with clean, smooth plastic wrap (cling film) to protect it from infection.
4. Seek medical attention: Go to an urgent care center or emergency room if the skin is blistered, white, blackened, numb, or covers a large area of the hand
