Gardaí have urged parents to educate their children before someone gets “seriously injured or dies,” about the dangers of a recent craze.
A group of teenagers in Offaly were spotted over the weekend taking part in a highly dangerous trend, which reportedly sees someone wrapping cling film around their face and attempting to see how long they can hold their breath for.
Worryingly, the incident does not seem like an isolated event. Reports have indicated that the craze, mainly among teenagers have been seen in other parts of the country, in recent weeks.
The warning was issued after a concerned parent had seen four teenagers, no older than 14 behind an Aidl, in Edenderry on Saturday.
The parent raised awareness by contacting the administrator on the Republic of Edenderry Facebook page.
The Sunday post read: "A concerned page follower has contacted this page with a warning for teenagers and their parents. While in Edenderry today at Supermacs she saw 4 boys behind Aldi, no more than 14 and they were wrapping cling film around each other’s faces and roaring laughing.
"This could have fatal consequences. She asked this page to please post this to make parents aware of what their kids think nowadays is fun!!!"
The Facebook page also posted a picture of three teenagers with what looks like a roll of cling film, in the comment section.
In response to the parent's concerns, Laois-Offaly Crime Prevention Officer, Sgt. Graham Kavanagh, issued a warning to the Offaly Express.
"Parents need to inform their children about such activities before one of them gets seriously injured or dies due to suffocation."
It is understood that the craze emerged last year and it could potentially cause a serious threat to a person’s life.
