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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Three people were taken to the hospital Monday after a student at a Providence middle school allegedly attempted a dangerous viral TikTok trend, according to fire officials.
Crews responded to DelSesto Middle School around 10:45 a.m. following reports of people feeling unwell, Battalion Chief Edward Dwyer told Nexstar’s WPRI.
Dwyer said the incident stemmed from what’s known as the “Chromebook Challenge,” in which students try to short-circuit their laptops by inserting objects into the charging ports.
In this case, someone reportedly stuck lead into a Chromebook, causing it to smoke.
Two students were taken to Hasbro Children’s Hospital, while a teacher was transported to Miriam Hospital, both located in Providence.
In a letter to the DelSesto community, Principal Ashley Ferranti said the individuals were hospitalized out of an abundance of caution due to concerns over smoke inhalation.
“This is very concerning behavior and disruptive to the learning environment. It is a threat to school safety and students caught doing this will face immediate disciplinary action,” Ferranti wrote.
She urged parents and guardians to talk with their children about the dangers and consequences of participating in such trends, adding that it also violates Providence Public Schools’ Take Home Device Policy.
The incident remains under investigation.