The Condom Challenge: Is it Safe or Smart?

Chattanooga, TN (WDEF) – More than 34 million people are currently living with the HIV or AIDS virus world wide, which is why millions of young Americans are now learning just how safe and durable condoms can be, when they’re being used correctly.

It’s being called the Condom Challenge, and it’s sweeping the Internet by storm.

"I think it’s brilliant. I think it’s one of the coolest things that I’ve seen," said Mischka Scott, medical case manager for Chattanooga CARES, "The meaning behind it is to show the resiliency of condoms."

Thousands of videos have already been uploaded to YouTube and Facebook alone, showing young adults dumping a condom filled with water on another person’s head, only to find that it doesn’t burst immediately.

Where there are plenty of people who support the trend, there are also those who have concerns for the safety of the challenge, "You can play with them as much as you want in a safe and effective manner, but throwing it over your head and possibly suffocating yourself, or blocking off any air way, is a risk I wouldn’t take," said Cory Howard, communication’s director for Chattanooga CARES.

Either way, both experts from Chattanooga CARES say condoms are still the number one way to prevent spreading AIDs, HIV or any other STDs.

"It doesn’t cost anything," said Scott, "You can come to CARES and get a ton of condoms for free. I think that if you are making that decision to engage in sex, whatever it may look like, whatever the pretense, a condom is your best bet."

Along with free condoms, CARES also provides free and confidential HIV testing for anyone in the community.