The covid 19 lock-down and the boredom that came with it has led to the popularity of Tik-Tok challenges. The latest is the crate challenge. We are quite unsure of what inspired this trend if it’s the current Olympics or pure boredom but, what we do know is that it has become quite popular with everyone from adults to teenagers and young kids doing their best to successfully walk on milk crates.
Nigerians are not left out of the ongoing challenge. Twitter, Instagram, and Tik-tok timelines have now become flooded with videos of people risking it all to prove their talents and athletic abilities in front of happy spectators. Some celebrities have even tried it and are taking a cue from a girl who completed the challenge putting on high-heeled shoes.
While this challenge might seem fun, it does pose serious health implications. Let’s look at what every Nigerian should consider before attempting the crate challenge:
Residents doctors are on strike
On the 2nd of August, Nigerian doctors went on an indefinite strike. The court order to bring them back has yielded no result. So, before you try out the crate challenge, remember there are no doctors readily available to attend to you.
The health sector already has a pandemic to attend to
On Monday, the Baltimore city health department tweeted: “With COVID-19 hospitalizations rising around the country, please check with your local hospital to see if they have a bed available for you, before attempting the #milkcratechallenge.” This statement also refers to Nigeria. Hospitals are filled up with covid 19 patients unattended to so try not to start another pandemic.
Are you ready to break a bone?
Depending on the angle you fall while attempting the crate challenge, it could lead to a fractured bone. A fractured bone takes about 3 months to heal with regular physiotherapy. This could limit your mobility and social skills. Don’t forget that our doctors are still on strike so you might have to live with a broken bone or bones for a while.
The threat of your mother’s beating
We don’t know about you but we do know that the threat of any Nigerian mother’s beating is the beginning of wisdom. Imagine doing the challenge and hurting yourself, what will you tell your mother? Going viral is cool but is it worth getting beaten for? Think about it.
Children are watching
It can be very hard to restrict children from these viral trends because it’s everywhere. It’s on tv, social media, and even on the streets. Research has proven that Generation Z is very inquisitive. They love to try out what they see to know what it feels like. So, before you try out challenges like this, think about the impact it might have on the children in your neighborhood.