Have you ever been dared or challenged to do something that seemed harmless but turned out to be risky? If so, you’re not alone. Sometimes people feel pressured to accept a challenge that involves eating or drinking large amounts of something – often common products around the house. Participating in a challenge, though, could put their health and well-being at risk.
In this blog, we share five real-life cases from medical literature, media reports and IPC case files, where individuals ingested extraordinary amounts of water, alcohol, condiments and medicine, leading to severe consequences, including fatalities. Let’s explore these cases for valuable lessons on safeguarding our health and well-being.
Water: A Radio Contest Challenge That Turned Deadly
Water is essential for life and a natural thirst quencher. However, in one tragic case, a 28-year-old woman consumed two gallons of water in a three-hour period as part of a radio station-sponsored challenge. This seemingly harmless act led to her death a few hours later due to hyponatremia, a condition caused by low sodium concentration in the blood. Hyponatremia can result in symptoms ranging from headaches and muscle spasms to coma, seizures and, in rare instances, death. It’s important to note that quickly ingesting less than 2 gallons of water has been associated with serious water toxicity and death.
Benadryl: This Challenge Can Be a Heart Stopper
Benadryl (also called diphenhydramine) is an antihistamine often used to treat allergy symptoms or to help people sleep. Many people have it in their medicine cabinets or can easily purchase it at a pharmacy. A recent TikTok Benadryl Challenge encouraged people to take large amounts of the antihistamine in order to induce hallucinations. Unfortunately, taking a higher–than-recommended dosage can lead to the heart not beating correctly, seizures, coma and potentially death. This challenge has sent numerous teens to the emergency department and has in some cases led to death.
Hot Sauce: Feeling the Burn, Literally
Adding a bit of spice to your meals with hot pepper sauce can be enjoyable, but it can also lead to painful consequences when taken to the extreme. One man consumed half a bottle of “insanely hot” hot sauce as part of a bet, landing him in the hospital under the care of a gastrointestinal specialist due to the intense pain and nausea.
This product was made using Carolina Reaper peppers, which are believed to be the world’s hottest peppers. The Scoville scale is used to measure the degree of heat from capsaicin in different peppers. The higher the number, the hotter the pepper. Carolina Reapers take the prize at a reading of 2.2 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU) as compared to the more familiar jalapeno pepper with a rating of 2,500-8,000 SHU.
Soy Sauce: A Salty Challenge Gone Wrong
Soy sauce, a popular condiment in Asian dishes, turned into a hazardous dare for a 19-year-old man who drank an entire quart of the salty condiment. This resulted in elevated, life-threatening blood sodium levels, a condition called hypernatremia. The patient presented to the emergency department unresponsive and developed seizure-like activity. He required aggressive treatment to stabilize his condition and was hospitalized for nine days. Hypernatremia can cause severe neurological symptoms, such as confusion, seizures and unconsciousness. In severe cases, it can lead to death.
Alcohol: From Socializing to Life-Threatening Hazing
Commonly consumed socially, alcohol becomes highly dangerous when excessive amounts are ingested in short periods, as seen in initiation rituals and hazing events associated with fraternities or sports teams. Consuming massive amounts of alcohol can lead to acute alcohol poisoning, where high blood alcohol levels suppress brain function and the body’s respiratory and cardiovascular systems. At high blood alcohol levels, patients can become unresponsive, comatose and suffer a fatal cardiopulmonary arrest. Awareness of the potential life-altering consequences of large-volume alcohol consumption is critically important, particularly among young adults with low alcohol tolerance.
Dares and challenges are shared activities that offer fun and excitement, but individuals should never compromise their health and safety. These five cases illustrate the life-threatening risks associated with consuming extreme amounts of common substances that are otherwise harmless or beneficial in moderation. There is a saying among toxicologists, “Everything is a poison. It’s only a matter of dose.” Be mindful of the potential risks of any dare or challenge and prioritize health and well-being at all times.
For more information about what to do in case of a poisoning or overdose, or if you have a question on potentially harmful challenges, call the Illinois Poison Center or regional poison center helpline at 1-800-222-1222.
If you live in Illinois and are interested in poison prevention materials for your home, click here for a free complimentary safety packet available in English and Spanish and with a sticker, magnet and first aid tips.
