Retail Stores Becoming Concerned About "Heelys"
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Wary about potential premises liability issues and personal injuries, many stores and malls are taking precautions when it comes to trendy wheeled sneakers. One such place is Dubuque, Iowa, where stores are implementing policy changes and new signage.
According to Zach Shank, manager of a Hy-Vee in the city, the shoes have been banned in his store. He said the decision was prompted by complaints from customers.
Though no injuries have been reported in the city, retailers in the area view the shoes as a potential safety and liability issue.
They aren't the only ones, federal agencies also recognize safety issues involved with the popular shoes.
In the period between September of 2005 to December of 2006, one death and at least 64 personal injuries related to wheeled shoes were reported by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
The concerns are not just limited to the U.S. Over the past summer, a hospital in Dublin, Ireland saw 67 children over a period of 10 weeks for injuries from Heelys, the name the shoes are given, based on the most popular brand, or strap-on wheels called Street Gliders. It was also reported by the Associated Press that doctors in Singapore said 37 children had been treated last year for similar injuries.
According to Dr. Donald Reyerson, a pediatrician in the Dubuque area, though he has only seen minor injuries, the main cause seems to be kids crashing into others. He noted that he has personally witnessed children "cruising along without regard to other folks." He added, "It's quite possible to injure someone."
For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Defective and Dangerous Products.