In the space of two months, a TikTok challenge has seen firefighters cutting free 18 Merseyside teens from swings.
The social media trend involves the teenagers squeezing themselves into baby or toddler swings while being filmed.
Some have become stuck and the fire service has been forced to cut them free, sometimes having to dismantle the whole swing.
Merseyside Fire & Rescue Services (MFRS) is now warning teenagers to think twice before taking part in the internet craze to prevent what it described as "completely avoidable" and "unnecessary" incidents, that "cause a huge expense to local authorities". It also urged parents to speak to their children.
Since the start of April fire crews have responded to 18 incidents involving people being trapped in baby and infant swings in playgrounds and parks - with 14 of these taking place in May alone, The Liverpool Echo reports.
Fire services across the UK spoke out last year about the number of 999 calls they had received to assist people in similar situations.
The majority of the incidents attended by MFRS involved young people between the ages of 11 and 15.
Of these, 11 took place in Knowsley – four of which were in Webster Park and three in Memorial Park in Kirkby. Two incidents took place in Sefton, Wirral and Liverpool, and one in St Helens.
Some of the incidents have seen crews able to release the youngsters without the need for tools, but others have led to the complete dismantling of the swings, rendering them unusable to other people.
No one was injured as a result, but MFRS are calling on teenagers to think twice about taking part in challenges or dares.
Ben Ryder, Area Manager for Operational Response at MFRS, said: “We attend all kinds of different incidents with people needing our assistance from a whole host of situations. We are built to help – it’s in our nature – but these kind of incidents are completely avoidable, unnecessary and cause a huge expense to local authorities.”
A Knowsley Council spokesperson said: “Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service provide a crucial service to our communities and it’s unacceptable that a small number of people are wasting their valuable time in this way. I would encourage parents to speak to their children and explain the consequences of this behaviour.
"I would also say to our young people that while we welcome you to use our parks and green spaces please don’t participate in behaviour that puts yourself and others at risk.”
Mr Ryder added: “We would urge young people to think twice before trying to imitate the latest dare or challenge they have seen online. It might seem like a bit of fun and it might increase your following online, but is it worth it?"
