American doctors have warned of the risks of severe injuries that may result from the new "Milk Crate Challenge," which has gone viral on social media. The challenge involves climbing a pyramid of plastic crates, where a person may lose their balance and fall from a considerable height, resulting in unpredictable consequences.
Recently, the platform TikTok and other social media sites have been filled with videos of this risky challenge, showing users attempting to climb plastic crates designed for packaging milk, stacked on top of each other like a pyramid. Often, participants end up falling in a seemingly violent and painful manner. Some individuals later post images of severe bruises sustained during the challenge, which could result in broken bones.
Dr. Chad Cannon, an emergency physician at the University of Kansas Health System, warned that falling from these crates "could cause a spinal fracture and potentially lead to paralysis," describing the activity as "really foolish." He added that a climber could fall on their head, resulting in bleeding.
Health authorities in Baltimore emphasized that it is not the right time to engage in such acrobatic stunts, especially as hospitals are already experiencing pressure from the COVID-19 pandemic. They posted on Twitter stating: "Given the rise in COVID-19 related hospitalizations across the country, please check with your local hospital to ensure they have a bed available for you before attempting the Milk Crate Challenge."
