Colorado schools have reported more than 200 incidents in recent weeks of laptops smoking, overheating and catching on fire that fire officials believe are connected to the viral “Chromebook Challenge.”
The “Chromebook Challenge” is a social media trend that encourages students to stick sharp objects into the charging port of their laptop, according to a news release from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.
Puncturing the lithium batteries inside that port can cause the batteries to heat up uncontrollably, release gases and catch fire, fire officials said in the release.
“We understand that trends spread quickly online, but some actions — like tampering with a laptop’s charging port — can lead to unexpected and harmful consequences,” Fire & Life Safety Section Chief Chris Brunette stated in the release. “Even when there’s no visible fire, damaged batteries can release gases and chemicals that pose a real risk to health and safety.”
That includes hydrogen fluoride and other acidic vapors, which can cause headaches, dizziness, confusion, loss of consciousness and potential damage to the liver, kidneys and central nervous system, according to the news release.
Fire officials said the trend is even more concerning when students try it at home, where there may be younger siblings, flammable materials and limited adult supervision, increasing the risk of injury and home fires.
The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control kicked off a new campaign last week to raise awareness with local schools and fire agencies about the safety issue.
“We’re encouraging schools and families to talk openly with students about safety and think critically about online challenges,” said Chuck Altvater, a community risk reduction and education chief with the fire agency. “Our goal is to provide guidance, prevent these incidents and take steps to control future incidents.”
The agency posted several resources on its website, including safety tips for schools, response steps for fire departments, information resources for parents and a video teaching students about the dangers of damaging lithium-ion batteries.
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