Nearly everyone under the age of 14 seems to own a pair of those wheeled sneakers. But doctors worldwide are saying they can be dangerous.
Heelys and similar brands ofwheeled shoes are sold in around 70 countries, and doctors in almost all of those countries are treating children for injuries they sustained while “heeling.” In Dublin, 67 children were treated in a 10-week period last summer. Another 37 children were treated in Singapore. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported one death and at least 64 injuries could be attributed to the sneakers in this country, in a recent 12-month period, but estimates the number of emergency-room visits precipitated by the sneaker at around 1,600.
Common injuries include broken wrists, arms and ankles, dislocated elbows and cracked skulls. Which is to say nothing of skinned knees.(Associated Press)
