FDL Fire Gets Big Response To Tide Pod Awareness Effort

The Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue Department got a lot of response to an appeal to make parents aware of the so-called “Tide Pod Challenge.” Officials wanted to make parents aware of the challenge issued on social media in which kids were dared to swallow packets or pods containing laundry detergent. Division Chief Troy Haase says they did a story with a Green Bay TV station that got posted on social media and continued to get shared across the nation. He says, “It is an important story, not a fire-related story, but it is the largest story they have ever had. It traveled across the country and got about 440 hits.” Haase is surprised kids, particularly teens, would fall for such a dangerous challenge. He says, “Everyone wants to get attention, it’s one of those things you can do this challenge. You can video yourself, put it up online, get likes, Snapchat and all that crazy stuff they do. But it is one of those things you have to be smarter than that.”  Proctor and Gamble, owner of Tide products, is airing a TV commercial starring New England Patriots Tight End Rob Gronkowski urging people not to eat the pods.