Heelys - Headline News!

[ALR]

If anyone saw GMTV today. Heelys made news as a dangerous toy. Whilst I have my reservations about them (from a Mum's point of view) I view them as similar to skateboards,in-line skates, old fashioned roller skates etc. It seems that kids can't win. They are either in trouble for sitting playing computer games and lack of exercise or viewed as irresponsible for participating in a dangerous sport.

I think it's common sense that kids wear the same protection gear as what they use for skateboards, skates etc.

[CERICROWLEY]

Its tragic that something like this has happened, and my deepest sympathy goes out to the young boy and his family.

But I do feel again as usual, this has blown out of all proportion. One accident has happened in about a million to one chance. The amount of children that have heely or there counterpart wheelies that have not had any incidents is minute.

Care and safety should always come first, and especially when negiotating crossing the streets. Accidents will happen and will get the odd one that wants to play silly beggers on them, but I assume and hope that the majority of kids and adults alike are very sensible with them and have loads of fun.

[LiesaAnna]

there is always an element of danger with these sort of things but it shouldnt stop children from being sensible and enjoying them, have seen many having great fun, we did have an episode when they were worn to school and that soon had a stop put to them, but safety first, enjoy and be careful!!!!
sad to hear of the poor lad, hope he makes a full ecovery xx

[dawn burley]

As a Physiotherapist I don't like them as it encourages children to walk in an unnatural way putting the toe down first instead of the heel. This can cause all sorts of problems with the dynamics of all the other lower limb muscles and joints.

If heelys are used in the right way, I agree, they are just like skates and skateboards, another fun activity for our children. The problem is that some children and parents are using them like normal trainers to wear when they go out the house and this is where the problem seems to be. Children wear skates where they can skate but heelys seem to be worn everywhere! There were even girls wearing them at my daughters Brownie group last night!!

My daughter hasn't asked for them yet, but if she wants them for her birthday I will buy her a pair, I cannot wrap her up in cotton wool. However, I will be very careful about when and where she uses them!

[Homer]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ALR
I view them as similar to skateboards,in-line skates, old fashioned roller skates etc.
I think it's common sense that kids wear the same protection gear as what they use for skateboards, skates etc.
[/quote]

The fact that a child was seriously injured is terrible but to be honest how many other kids were run over yesterday or knocked off their bikes but obviously that is not news I suppose.

While I dont disagree with your comments about kids getting out and about would you deem it acceptable that kids ride skateboards or rollerskate in shops?? how about we allow people to ride bikes and mopeds in there as well

Everytime I go to Tesco or Currys etc there is someone rolling around on a pair of wheelies

I watched in horror last Sunday when a child "wheeled" into a penioner and knocked her over luckily she was alright but I am sure you get the picture of what could have been the outcome. The kid dissapeared sharpish.

I actually questioned Tesco's policy on Heely Wheelie whatever you call them to be told that they dont have one, suffice to say that last night there was a sign saying no Heely Wheelies in the store and not before time.

In the right place no problem Heely Wheelie yourself where you want as far as I am concerned.

[ALR]

No I certainly wouldn't deem it okay for a child to ride a skateboard or rollerskate in a shop! Nor would I expect to come across someone riding a moped or a bike inside the shop.

However, as a child should be accompanied by an adult in an establishment such as Tesco's, I would question the parent as to why the child was "Skating" inside the store.

The point I was making is that heelys are similar to an old fashioned pair of rollerskates or in-line skates and if a child was skating in them I would expect the parent to purchase the protective gear for the child also.

[steph_goodrum]

"The amount of children that have heely or there counterpart wheelies that have not had any incidents is minute.


Since last year there have been many reports on tv of the dangers, not just the knocking out kind but many (particularly in the US) accident and emergency rooms are having lots of cases of children using the kind that when using the skate you lift the toe at an angle as this is causing lots of Achilles tendon injuries because it is strecthing it unnaturally as well as Dawn mentioned when they are walking on tiptoe when not skating.

I'm really surprised that our local primary school allows the children to use them at lunchtime but the children don't have to have any sort of protective gear, but footballs arenn't allowed because they are dangerous?

I agree children have to be allowed to develop risk strategies, which they are often not getting the opportunity because they aren't allowed to assess danger for themselves but constantly told what they can and can't do, but it also has to be in an envronment that doens't endanger others.

With the young boy who was injured yesterday it may just be another case of a child who ran out in front of a car, no-one can say (and he obviously hassn't been able to tell yet) if he was actually skating on them or just walking but obvioulsy they would probably not have helped if he'd realised he misjudged the speed/distance of the oncoming car. My niece was knocked down by a car several years ago when she was 13, breaking her leg quite badly and being hospitalised in traction for some time, just because as she was crossing the road her shoe slipped off and she stopped for a fraction of a second to slip her foot back in.

Fingers crossed the prognosis isn't as bad as it seems at the moment and he recovers.

[taylona]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by steph_goodrum
"...I'm really surprised that our local primary school allows the children to use them at lunchtime but the children don't have to have any sort of protective gear, but footballs arenn't allowed because they are dangerous? ....[/quote]

Gosh Steph, your local primary head teacher is brave! My head wouldn't allow this.

[LiesaAnna]

no ours wouldnt either, using heeleys at lunch time that is, bad enoughwatching the children charging about all over the place would be awful if they had to watch out for roller skating as well, at home in the right environment and the proper safety gear worn

[millie]

Well I was parked in a car park and a woman walked between my car and the car next to me and her child "heelied" straight into the front of my car. She just kept walking. I had to shout her to stop as her child has just run into my car while I checked for damage. There was none but the thump when she hit it I am surprised the child was not hurt.

Kids do seem to be wearing them everywhere. Especially supermarkets and shopping centres - must be the shiny floors and good for skating on. I don't mind to be honest as long as the parents are supervising and are taking responsibility for them. Not like the woman who couldn't have cared less that her girl was running into parked cars. Good job I was not just pulling out of the space. I'm sure she would have had something to say then.

Lx