Did anyone you know get a hoverboard for Christmas this year? If so, they may be putting themselves in danger by using it. There have been numerous reports of falls and injuries associated with them, in addition to a recent number of fires and explosions.
A quick internet search will reveal many articles warning of the dangers of this year’s hottest holiday gift. Here is one from earlier this morning out of Greenville, S.C.:
GREENVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina) –The hoverboard may have been one of this year’s hottest holiday gifts, but it’s also landed many kids, and their parents, in the emergency room.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Monday evening it was investigating 22 reported hoverboard fires across 17 states.
According to the website saferproducts.gov, around 70 emergency room visits were recorded on Monday due to the popular transportation devices.
Many people have reported fires, which reportedly start because of heating problems with the lithium battery inside the board.
Others said they have suffered major injuries such as concussions.
FOX Carolina spoke to a doctor and a safety educator about the consequences of hopping on this popular ride.
“Hoverboards were a huge gift this season, there have been the reports of fires across the country, batteries catching fire, and some injuries from that,” said Dr. Ryan Hoffman Medical director for Emergency Services.
Safety educator Amanda Leeson urges users to use safety gear, such as a helmet.
“Specifically with hoverboards we’re concerned about falls,” Leeson said. “We’re talking about injuries to the head, concussions, contusions, traumatic brain so really wearing a properly fitted helmet, it prevents head injuries 88 percent of the time.”
Experts also suggest calibrating your board before using it. This allows the machine’s sensors to adjust to your weight and positioning on the board.
Copyright 2015 FOX Carolina (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
Read more: http://www.foxcarolina.com/story/30844343/doctor-safety-expert-weigh-in-on-hoverboard-dangers#ixzz3vjoCOIPQ
If someone you know and love is trying to learn to operate a hoverboard, please direct them to the NFPA’s latest tip sheet: Hoverboard Tip Sheet for additional information.
What are your thoughts on this gift sensation?
After reading several of the articles, I’m gonna have to give it a big
despite all the hype!
Better to “be safe; rather than sorry!” For now, I’ll keep my feet on the ground.
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Children's Author - Maria Bostian 
I can’t believe people are still buying them after all the warnings. They were deemed unsafe a long time before Christmas, should be taken off the shelves. If you more about types of the hoverboard visit this blog.
I Know The Hendo hoverboard, invented by Greg Henderson and launched with the help of his wife, Jill, nearly broke the Internet when it appeared in a Kickstarter video last year featuring company engineer and resident stuntman Garrett Foshay.