N.J. Hospital Sees 14 Patients Injured By Motorized Boards On Christmas Day Alone
RIDGEWOOD, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A New Jersey hospital saw 14 patients on Christmas Day alone who were injured by motorized, self-balancing, two-wheel scooters.
As WCBS 880's Stephanie Colombini reported Saturday, the Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, New Jersey saw 14 patients in the emergency room with injuries from the motorized boards on Christmas Day.
The hospital said it has seen a handful of additional injuries related to the motorized boards since.
Most of the injuries were caused by people falling off the boards, the report said.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission urged riders to wear the same safety gear with the motorized boards that they would use if they were on a traditional skateboard – including helmets, elbow and knee pads, and wrist guards.
The agency has said it has received dozens of reports of injuries related to the devices across the country, and also said agents are actively investigating fires caused by the boards while in use or while charging.
"While there is no conclusive evidence that hoverboards are defective or inherently unsafe, we want consumers to be aware of the potential dangers and take precautions to keep themselves and their children safe," Steve Lee, Acting Director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, said in a statement this past Thursday. "We will monitor the CPSC investigation and keep consumers updated on any findings."
Two of the reported fires associated with the devices also happened in New Jersey.
The most recent reported fire happened last Sunday night when Lanoka Harbor firefighters said they responded to a call about a board catching fire. The fire department published two photos on Facebook showing the charred board and surrounding carpet.
There have also been cases of board fires in New York.
The FDNY posted a picture to Twitter on Wednesday of a board they said caught fire in a Brooklyn apartment.
There was also a report of a house fire being blamed on a board in Westchester County.
Another New York man also told CBS2 earlier this month that his board burst into flames while he was riding it.
The three largest U.S. airlines have also banned them because of potential fire danger from the lithium-ion batteries that power the devices.
Incidents involving the devices can be reported to www.SaferProducts.gov.
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