KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It’s the thing every kid wants and every adult wants to try: Hoverboards. But they can be dangerous if you don’t know how to use one safely.
Hoverboards were the only things the Hyer sisters wanted for Christmas. Big sister Avery asked Santa, so little sister Emerson asked mom.
“I forgot to write it on my list, but I think I told my mom,” Emerson said.
Don’t let the simple design fool you, it’s not that easy to hover at first.
“I ran into a couch and fell backwards,” Avery said.
Kids bounce back from injury; it’s not the same for adults. Dr. Mike Museousky, director of the Overland Park ER of Olathe, has treated three adults who tried the hoverboard and failed.
“If you hit your head on that hard of a surface, you don’t have to fall that far to suffer a severe injury. if you hit it just right, you’re going to be in trouble,” Museousky said.
He said the hoverboard injuries he’s seen were all head and back injuries. That’s why he recommends wearing helmets, knee and elbow pads, and wrist guards. Treat it as if you are skateboarding or bike riding.
He also recommends having someone there to help you get on and off the hoverboard, because that can be a little tricky.
Hoverboards can be a lot of fun, but use caution. A trip to the hospital is no fun at all.
