V.I. Teenagers Burning Themselves In New Challenge, Police Warn of Jail Time

In an effort to encourage parents and the community on the dangers of  various “challenges” now making the rounds amongst youth of the Virgin Islands, the VIPD held a town hall meeting yesterday at the Patrick Sweeny Pavillion, revealing information that would make any parent or concerned citizen shudder.

About 30 citizens attended the town hall, including the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency’s Denis Lewis, who had compiled the information to be released to the audience, and said that because of the plethora of challenges that are online, her focus had to be narrowed down to the most prevalent and dangerous ones.

The ‘Pass Out Challenge’ involves a person bending over and breathing heavily until they hyperventilate and then quickly stand up. Another person instantly starts exerting pressure on their chest until they pass out. The risky activity has been reported on St. Croix, where one female had to be rushed to the hospital because she was having seizures after performing the Pass Out Challenge.

Another deadly challenge now being performed in the Virgin Islands, posted on Facebook by a St. Croix teenager, is the “Fire Challenge”. In the video, the teenager is seen rubbing alcohol to his chest then proceeds to grab a lighter and light his chest on fire. Once the vapors from the alcohol catch fire the teenager screams uncontrollably then hustles to a nearby bed and throws himself on it. He and his friends start to laugh thereafter.

“As always, things usually start from the mainland and other places and then eventually it trickles its way here to the Virgin Islands and our young people normally get caught up in the middle of these things through wanting to be a part of  team, peer-pressure and everything else,” VIPD Deputy Chief Arthur Hector said at the town hall meeting.

There were other challenges too, including the seemingly harmless “Cinnamon Challenge”, where an individual tries to consume a spoon full of cinnamon in under 60 seconds without drinking water or any liquid. However this challenge is also very dangerous as it forces inhalation of cinnamon into the lungs which can result in serious lung damage.

Hector said that children who participate in the lethal challenges could face jail time, and those who are in attendance when said challenges are being performed could face federal charges if a criminal case is brought forth.

VIPD spokesperson Melody Rames said that there needs to be a cooperate effort by the community, including churches, parents and guardians to educate our young people about the negative life-long effects of these challenges.