NORFOLK — President Jeffrey Lynch and the Fire Chiefs of Norfolk County would like to warn parents of a new viral teen video trend that may result in fire incidents.
State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey released an advisory today to inform the general public of two incidents that have taken place in Massachusetts.
The challenge seen on the popular video app, TikTok, involves partially inserting the plug of a phone charger into an electrical outlet and sliding a penny down the wall onto the exposed metal prongs. This action results in sparks and can cause electrical system damage and, in some cases, a fire. To view the video of the challenge click here.
The Norfolk County Fire Chiefs Association would like to provide the following electrical fire safety tips from the U.S. Fire Administration:
- Insert plugs fully into sockets.
- If you have young children, install tamper-resistant electrical outlets.
- Replace wall outlets if plugs do not fit tightly.
- Do not overload outlets.
- Never force a three-pronged plug into a two-slot outlet.
In addition to electrical fire safety, The Norfolk County Fire Chiefs Association would like to remind parents and children to discuss the dangers of certain online challenges and trends and recognizing dangerous activity on the internet.
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