FORNEY, Texas — WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT — A Forney woman’s hoverboard mishap photos have gone viral — with more than 119,000 post shares in 24 hours.
FORNEY, Texas — WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT — A Forney woman’s hoverboard mishap photos have gone viral — with more than 119,000 post shares in 24 hours.
27 staples and eight stitches later, Rachel Ellis says she's blessed she walked away without more severe injuries.
“I'm not saying they're bad, just saying use caution and wear protective gear,” she stated.
Ellis was riding the hoverboard when she fell off and struck her head on the corner of a wall which cut a large gash on her head, exposing her skull. She was taken to Lake Pointe ER in Forney, Texas, where she received 27 staples and eight stitches to close the seven-inch wound.
Ellis says hospital staff told her she was the sixth patient to visit that particular hospital with hoverboard related injuries — her injuries being the most severe.
The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) echoes Ellis’ statement on safety gear stating riders should wear safety gear much like you would if you were riding a skateboard — a skateboard helmet, knee and elbow pads, and wrist guards. (Continue reading below pictures).
My hover board fail! Please use extreme caution while trying these suckers out. So much can go wrong I was super blessed...
Posted by Rachel Ellis on Monday, December 28, 2015
In addition to wearing safety gear, the CPSC, in a December 16, 2015, hoverboard investigation notice, warns hoverboard owners of potential fire hazards after several reports of overboard-related fires across the country.
“CPSC field investigators are actively investigating hoverboard-related fires across the country and will open new cases as they come to our attention,” stated the CPSC. “CPSC engineers in our National Product Testing and Evaluation Center in Maryland have tested and will continue to test new and damaged boards in search of an answer for why some models caught fire during the charging stage and others caught fire while in use.”
On the fire hazards, the CPSC advises hoverboard owners to not charge the product overnight or when you are unable to observe the board, charge and store the board in an open and dry area away from combustibles, and do not charge the device directly after riding and to instead allow for at least an hour for the board to cool.
Before purchasing, the CPSC says consumers should first research the company selling the hoverboard, including information on contacting the company or manufacturer should an issue arise, and look for the mark of a certified national testing lavatory such as a UL marking.
The CPSC urges consumers to report incidents to the CPSC via www.SaferProducts.gov.