Glasgow children burned by heated “squishy” toys

The Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow has treated six children over the past eight months with severe burns after they microwaved soft “squishy” toys to make them more pliable. Heating the toys creates pressure that can cause the gel inside to explode and stick to the skin, delivering deep, scalding injuries.

Eight‑year‑old Joseph Erskine of Clackmannanshire required a skin graft after a toy burst across his chest and hand. Eleven‑year‑old Scarlet Rowe of North Ayrshire suffered facial and eyelid burns; she avoided grafting but was left with serious scarring risk. Burns specialists warned the trend is growing and urged parents to warn children about the danger.