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Viral Jolly Rancher TikTok recipe leaves boy with severe burns. Here’s a doctor’s warning.
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A Pittsburgh-area mother says she just wants to go back in time and not watch a viral TikTok video that ended with her 9-year-old in the hospital with severe burns.
“I’ve had a lot of mom guilt for even thinking this was a good idea,” mom Christina Blackstone said after what started as a fun bonding activity to make “candy grapes” ended with a trip to West Penn Hospital.
What are candy grapes?
A trendy video is popping up on TikTok, showing how to make “candy grapes.” Jolly Rancher-coated candy grapes are popular, but they’re suddenly sending people to the ER with severe burns.
Nine-year-old Caidan Blackstone from Uniontown still can’t use his hand.
“I went in complete shock the moment it happened,” Christina Blackstone said. “I heard him scream and I said, ‘Oh no, this is terrible.'”
Christina got the idea from a viral TikTok trend, watching step-by-step videos that looked simple enough.
“It was supposed to be a fun afternoon activity, it was raining outside,” she said.
But that bowl of molten Jolly Ranchers came out of the microwave and somehow spilled onto Caidan’s hand as he walked with it to the counter. The candy immediately started to harden.
“My instinct was ‘just pull it off, Christina.’ So I just grabbed him, and I was yanking it off. I think I was tearing skin,” Christina Blackstone said.
The burns from this TikTok idea can require skin grafting and cause nerve damage.
Doctor speaks out against TikTok trend
Dr. Ariel Aballay, the director of West Penn Hospital’s burn unit, said he’s speaking out before it gets any worse.
“We have seen in the last three weeks four patients — two adults, two children,” Aballay said.
They were patients with serious burns on their feet and hands, both young and old. He said Christina did the right thing pulling the hardening candy off her son’s hand. If she had left it on his hand, it would have burned even deeper into the skin. Aballay said he believes some parents simply don’t know the burn risk of this molten candy.
“Molten candy is 350 degrees Fahrenheit. And if you think about it, boiling water is 212, so once you get that temperature, it doesn’t take a long time to create a burn,” said Aballay.
“The doctor at West Penn told me if I would not have gotten that off sooner, it would have resulted in a third-degree burn and it would have gone into his nerves. He wouldn’t have feelings in his hands at that point,” said Christina.
After nearly three weeks of hand exercise rehab, Caidan still struggles to use his hand.
“They told us practice exercises, squeeze the stress ball, do the finger touches,” Christina said.
Thankfully, Caidan’s skin is growing back, along with his fingernails. Christina, however, still feels terrible.
“Something that was gonna be fun and a memory for the kids ended up resulting in second-degree burns,” she said.
What do you do if your child gets burned?
Aballay wants all caregivers to remember this: If you’re dealing with a burn, ice is not your friend. Immediately after a burn, put it in lukewarm water. Ice will make it worse. You just need to cool down the temperature of the skin.
The moment a parent sees a blister, you’re already talking about a second-degree burn so you should take action. Aballay added that you shouldn’t think you’re in the clear if it doesn’t hurt or blister because it can be a third-degree burn with nerve damage.
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How to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The Minnesota Vikings will take on the Chicago Bears today. The Vikings are currently 8-2, an impressive run so far this season, and will be looking to add a fourth win to their current streak after last Sunday’s 23-13 win against the Tennessee Titans. The Bears, on the other hand, are entering this game on the heels of a four-game losing streak after a tough 20-19 loss against the Green Bay Packers last Sunday.
Here’s how and when you can watch the Vikings vs. Bears game today, whether or not you have cable.
How and when to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears
The Vikings vs. Bears game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT). The game will air on Fox and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears game without cable
You can watch this week’s NFL game on Fox via several streaming services. All you need is an internet connection and one of the top options outlined below.
Fubo offers you an easy, user-friendly way to watch NFL games on CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network, plus NCAA football channels. The Pro tier includes 200+ channels and unlimited DVR, while the Elite with Sports Plus tier adds NFL RedZone and 4K resolution. New subscribers get a seven-day free trial and all plans allow streaming on up to 10 screens simultaneously.
You can watch today’s game with a subscription to Sling’s Orange + Blue tier, which includes ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Fox. The plan offers 46 channels with local NFL games, nationally broadcast games and 50 hours of DVR storage. For complete NFL coverage, add Paramount+ to get CBS games, or upgrade with the Sports Extra add-on for additional sports channels like Golf Channel, NBA TV and NFL RedZone.
Watching NFL games, including Fox broadcasts, is simple with Hulu + Live TV, which includes 90 channels, unlimited DVR storage, and access to NFL preseason games, live regular season games and studio shows. The service includes ESPN+ and Disney+ in the subscription.
Want to watch today’s game live on your smartphone? If so, NFL+ streaming service is the solution you’re looking for. It lets you watch NFL Network and out-of-market games on mobile devices, with an upgrade option to NFL+ Premium that includes NFL RedZone for watching up to eight games simultaneously. Note that NFL+ only works on phones and tablets, not TVs.
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How to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The Detroit Lions will face off against the Indianapolis Colts today. The Lions enter this game as top contenders with a near-perfect record of 9-1 so far this season. The Colts, who are 5-6 this season, could have a tough game on their hands against the Lions but will be looking to rack up another win after prevailing over the New York Jets in a tight game last Sunday.
Here’s how and when you can watch the Colts vs. Lions game today, whether or not you have cable.
Here’s how and when to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Lions vs. Colts game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT). The game will air on Fox and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts game without cable
You can watch this week’s NFL game on Fox via several streaming services. All you need is an internet connection and one of the top options outlined below.
Experience NFL action like never before with Fubo’s comprehensive sports streaming platform. From Sunday showdowns to primetime matchups, catch every NFL game across major networks including CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN and NFL Network. Choose the Pro package to unlock 200+ channels and limitless DVR storage, or elevate your game-day experience with the Elite with Sports Plus package, featuring NFL RedZone’s commercial-free scoring highlights and stunning 4K quality.
Test drive the service with a no-commitment seven-day free trial, and share the excitement with family and friends — Fubo supports simultaneous streaming on up to 10 devices, so everyone can watch their favorite teams.
You can watch today’s game with a subscription to Sling’s Orange + Blue tier, which includes ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Fox. The plan offers 46 channels with local NFL games, nationally broadcast games, and 50 hours of DVR storage. For complete NFL coverage, add Paramount+ to get CBS games, or upgrade with the Sports Extra add-on for additional sports channels like Golf Channel, NBA TV and NFL RedZone.
Watching NFL games, including Fox broadcasts, is simple with Hulu + Live TV, which includes 90 channels, unlimited DVR storage, and access to NFL preseason games, live regular season games and studio shows. The service includes ESPN+ and Disney+ in the subscription.
Want to watch today’s game live on your smartphone? If so, NFL+ streaming service is the solution you’re looking for. It lets you watch NFL Network and out-of-market games on mobile devices, with an upgrade option to NFL+ Premium that includes NFL RedZone for watching up to eight games simultaneously. Note that NFL+ only works on phones and tablets, not TVs.