Liquids heated in a microwave can easily burn, scald, says UCI Health expert
Popular film sparks a popular, dangerous trend
IN THE NEWS: The popular Netflix film “KPop Demon Hunters,” focuses on a K-pop girl group who all live double lives. Their magic elixir is a hot cup of ramen noodles, which they slurp.
The film’s popularity has inspired a social media trend in which the noodles are consumed in a similar way, leaving young people at risk for scalds and burns.
Dr. Syed F. Saquib, medical director of the UCI Health Regional Burn Center, spoke with KNX News about how easily people can burn themselves when drinking hot soups, noodles or beverages.
“It takes about 140 degrees and three seconds of exposure to get a second-degree burn as an adult. Hot ramen noodle soup is boiling at 212 degrees.”
He shared how to treat burns caused by hot liquids or noodles.
“These burns can scar. And a second-degree burn can turn into a third-degree burn. Treat a burn by running it under cool water for at least 20 minutes.”
Saquib is an associate professor of surgery at the UC Irvine School of Medicine.
About UCI Health
UCI Health is one of California’s largest academic health systems and the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Established on July 1, 1976, UCI Health has grown into a 1,461-bed health system that includes UCI Health — Orange, UCI Health — Irvine, four Community Network hospitals and a growing network of ambulatory care centers across Orange and Los Angeles counties. As Orange County’s only academic health systems, UCI Health is home to the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in the county, the region’s only American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, American College of Emergency Physicians Gold Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department and a nationally recognized regional burn center verified by the American Burn Association. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people across Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County through excellence in patient care, research and medical education. Follow UCI Health on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.