Iowa ER doctor warns of burns from microwaved Needoh toys

The gel-like fluid inside the popular toys doesn't roll off the skin either, which could make a burn more serious.

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KCCI Investigates: Iowa ER doctor sees burns from microwaved NeeDohs, other squishy toys

The gel-like fluid inside the popular toys doesn’t roll off the skin either, which could make a burn more serious.

Chief Investigative Reporter

Parents or guardians, pay attention if your child has access to the following:

A NeeDoh or similar off-brand toy.
A microwave.

Dr. Clint Hawthorne, UnityPoint Health’s emergency department director, says there have been a handful of cases of burns involving the toys following social media posts showing how to microwave or freeze them.

“The demographics that use these are usually grade school kids,” Hawthorne said. “Those kids are often right at eye level so that burning can hit them or that fluid can hit them in the face, neck, upper extremities. It has a tendency to be a little more traumatic.”

The gel-like fluid inside doesn’t roll off the skin either, which could make a burn more serious. A burn from very hot water is different, Hawthorne said.

“That water hits you, but then it rapidly flows off of you. And so your time of exposure of that very hot fluid is pretty short,” he said.

But the gelatinous interior doesn’t roll off.

“This holds the same amount of energy and thermal heat as water, but it then sticks to you,” he said. “And so these burns tend to look much worse on day two and on day three than they did on your initial visit to the doctor.”

There have been reports from around the country to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The NeeDoh packaging contains specific directions to avoid microwaving or heating them up. KCCI Investigates reached out to Schylling, the manufacturer. We did not get a response yet.

Health officials say to talk to your kids.

And pay attention to what might look at first like a minor burn.

“I would say that if you start seeing blistering, especially if it’s anywhere on the hands, the face especially, you’re going to need to be seen and get some guidance on what are the next steps in the care of that burn,” Hawthorne said.

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