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carry a sharp (sheathed) knife
posted by jerry kathnelson on 01 Apr 2011 at 8:12 amMy Title says it all.
Read the news article that this opinion was posted about:
Water Walking Balls Have Risk Of Suffocation Drowning And Injury
late to the game
posted by gungi on 01 Apr 2011 at 8:16 am
These risks have been around for year on this. Why even bring it up again as if its news?
Duh!
posted by Jackson on 01 Apr 2011 at 8:20 am
I am sorry, but devices/activities like this (and bunjy jumping, and sky-diving, and SCUBA diving) carry with them some inherent risks. Any reasonable person engaging in on-water activities should carry with them some basic emergency equipment.
An obvious (to me) solution to this particular problem is a manually-inflatable life jacket as well as a nice sharp emergency knife to cut your way out. West Marine sells razor sharp rigging knives that are perfect for this application.
FWIW, New Zealand has been using these type of balls for years; both on land and water. Quit Coddling the public and perhaps teach some people about personal responsibility.
Responsibilty
posted by Michael on 01 Apr 2011 at 8:57 am
It's ok for adults to take that risk, but the issue here is that children were allowed to use them with the idea that they were safe. I agree that we should allow adults to do whatever stupid thing they want, but there needs to be protections in place to allow kids to have fun without serious risk. I don't think giving a sharp knife to a young kid is a good idea in any situation.
Seems to me a little bit panicy.
posted by Manok on 01 Apr 2011 at 9:15 am
"Within a few minutes air quality can pose a serious danger."...
That's pretty outrageous...
Nobody in the CPSC has done any kind of investigation to oxygen deplection, nor has ever watched "Mythbusters"...
BUSTED!
"if the ball is on water and has a leak or puncture, it can fill up with water."
Only if the leak is below water level, water gets inside. That's only a small part of the time. It must be a serious hole to get into trouble. But not too serious, else it provides an escape.
"the balls have no padding. If the balls collide with each other there is the potential for serious injuries."
What? It's one giant airbag!!!
"Okay kids, sorry, you cannot get into the walking ball. Let's get into the car and get home. Oh, but cars have a far greater accident ratio than walking balls! What now??"
Swimming
posted by Granger Horton on 01 Apr 2011 at 9:24 am
Because Swimming doesn't have the risk of drowning or injury
EVERYTHING IS DANGEROUS
posted by derrrr on 01 Apr 2011 at 9:25 am
This article is correct, these things are nothing but dangerous deathtraps and should be banned from existence entirely. And Michael is right, we should take away sharp knives from young children because they obviously don't have proper motor skills or enough life experience to handle the responsibility of a sharp object... which brings me to my next point... BOY SCOUTS... buncha young boys who are encouraged to play with knives and start fires... we should ban that organization along with these "death balls".
common sense
posted by Kelly on 01 Apr 2011 at 10:16 am
"Another child used the ball on a shallow, above-ground swimming pool, the ball fell out of it onto hard ground and the child suffered a fracture."
That simply sounds like an unsupervised child or a bad safety decision by an adult. It seems like most people would know that a fall is likely to occur in that situration. Not the fault of the product. I don't think these products should be used by children at all. Adults should be notified of risk and make their own choice, just like they do when sky diving, bungee jumping..etc.
Maybe this should be considered an "extreme" activity like "extreme" sports.
How safe is safe?
posted by AguaSpheres on 01 Apr 2011 at 10:26 am
AguaSpheres have operated water walking balls in Spain for 3 years. In that time we have had over 20,000 children use this activity – the only injury being a girl who grazed her toe as she caught it with the toenail from her other foot.
With far more serious injuries occurring in the day to day sporting activities that children partake in – should the government also consider banning american football, soccer, rugby etc?
Also, government experts should know that humans actually breathe out 4 times more oxygen than carbon dioxide. Intake fresh air is approx 21% oxygen and 0.05% CO2. Exhaled air is approx 16% oxygen and 4% CO2, so oxygen depletion is not as rapid as suggested.
However, especially where children are concerned, water walking balls should only be used for short periods and under expert trained supervision to ensure the welfare of participants. I have seen many video examples from USA where the supervision is lax to say the least. Stupidity bans such an activity, sensibility ensures safe and correct use of the equipment.
The idea of the ability to open the sphere from the inside places more risk upon the participant, especially if a child was to open the zip while on top of the water. This akin to allowing someone to tie the rope around their own ankles for a bungee jump!
water only balls.
posted by steve on 01 Apr 2011 at 11:11 am
It seems to me, an emergemcy exit on the inside is doable. I tried one on land and went down a hill that hurt like h..l ! It was umsupervised. A knife is trouble and not the solution. I think they are great resort and supervised by rescue folks on standby. If I had hit a rock I would have been dead or possibly maimed or knocked out to suffocate! Everything has risk and not for solo unsuperized folks. I love the fun of water and seeing below. But they get hot really fast so temperatures are important. Probably safer than a trampoline, but folks dont see the dangers. I would only do it on water, or a beach/sand and only with supervision and rescue boats with oxygen etc. No they are not for just anyone and using them around suburbs/ towns is not a good idea! Just tripping over your feet can send you rocketing uncontrolably for broken bones and head injury! Wear a ski/ bike hemet with pads when on land and common sense. Be careful of older folks whose bones break more easily, and heart attacks/ strokes from heat and stress. They take some practice and not for everyone. Dude, stop attacking Cub/Boyscouts for water balls. U likely never been a Scout that teaches caution and responsibiity! You might be lucky when one saves your bacon.
Wowballs not Oww balls
posted by simon derwent on 07 Apr 2011 at 3:59 am
I am the owner of Wowballs and have succesfully and safely hired out water balls in several countries for the past 4 years incident free. The worst thing that can happen to you is get wet. Believe me I have tried.
I (even being a smoker) have been in the Wowballs for 26 minutes and still here today.
If the ball rips or ziper accidentaly opens the rider always has enough time to be pulled back in or remove themselves from the deflating ball.
People need to be aware that this is and adventure sport on water that could involve accidental injury and or getting wet.
The best part or the Wowballs is banging into each other and if the Wowballs are run on an official Wowpool then its impossible for the Wowball to fall out, believe me I try often.
Eurobobbles who have had the accidents in the USA obviously dont know what they are doing. We at Wowballs and Aquaspheres stick to a strict standards and have had and will have many a safe and happy ride.
You will never be allowed to enter a Wowball with a knife and when we run this on open water thier is always a designated lifeguard on duty and is fully trained in Wowball rescue.
More deaths and accidental injuries happen on Jetskis and do you see them banned.
Licence the locations and then the riders will have a safe ride every time.
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