How did Aleema's hair catch fire?

Aleema's hair caught fire because the medicated shampoo she used for lice treatment was extremely flammable and ignited near a lit stove.

What were the consequences of the hair fire accident?

The accident resulted in severe burns over half of Aleema's body, the loss of seven fingers, and a nine-month hospital stay with daily surgeries.

What is Aleema doing now, nine years after her accident?

Nine years after the accident, Aleema is attending university to become a counselor and shares her story online to help and advocate for burns survivors.

Home / Disasters and Accidents / Girl's hair fire: A journey from tragedy to triumph

Girl's hair fire: A journey from tragedy to triumph

10 Feb

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Summary

A medicated shampoo's flammability caused a severe hair and scalp fire.
The accident resulted in burns over half her body and loss of seven fingers.
Nine years later, she studies to help trauma survivors and advocates online.

Girl's hair fire: A journey from tragedy to triumph

A devastating accident occurred when a young woman's hair ignited from a flammable medicated shampoo used for lice treatment. While walking past a lit stove, the flames rapidly spread from her hair to her scalp, inflicting intense pain and shock.

The immediate aftermath saw her sister's swift action in dragging her outside and a delivery man using his jacket to extinguish the flames. Paramedics arrived to find her in severe distress, experiencing pain so intense she wished to be put to sleep.

This tragic event left her with burns covering half of her body and resulted in the loss of seven fingers. She endured daily surgeries during a nine-month hospital stay, followed by continued home nursing care for several months. She later transitioned to homeschooling before attending a new school.