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Water walking ball rides are too dangerous for kids says CPSC
Submitted by Nicole Wilson on March 31, 2011 - 11:05am.
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(Best Syndication News) - The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a warning about the safety of water walking balls. These balls are found at fairs, amusement parks, carnivals, and other public gatherings. The children enter into a giant clear plastic ball which floats on water. The CPSC says that there is a risk for the child to suffocate and drown, and they can also become injured.
The balls are considered so dangerous in some states that they are refused permits to operate the rides. The CPSC said that they know of two children that were in jeopardy when they using the walking balls. One child was found unresponsive when being in the ball for only a short-time period. This child had received emergency medical treatment. The second child the CPSC is aware of had suffered a fracture when the ball fell outside of the pool onto the ground.
The CPSC also says that the ball do not have an emergency escape that the child could use. The person inside the ball cannot exit the ball unless someone outside unzips it. The air is pumped in to fill up the ball and then sealed inside the ball with the child inside. The child could suffocate if the air supply inside the ball is used up of all the oxygen and only carbon dioxide remains. Also injuries can happen in two ways, children can hit other kids running in other balls, and because the balls are in shallow water they can easily fall out of the pool onto the ground nearby.
If the balls are used in lakes or large bodies of water this could also be dangerous because of the potential of being hit by a boat or another object such as a pier. If the ball gets punctured it could leak and the child could easily become trapped and drowned inside the sinking ball.
In conclusion, the CPSC does not recommend using this product. They are asking all states to consider banning these water walking balls. They do not know of any way to make it a safe activity.
BY: N Wilson
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