U.S. investigates safety issues after hoverboards catch fire, cause harm By Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, adapted by Newsela staff on 02.05.16 Word Count 718 As hoverboards have become more popular, safety concerns have also emerged. Photo: Flickr/urbanwheel.co PITTSBURGH, Pa. This year, hoverboards became one of the hottest new gadgets. Estimates are that manufacturers, most of them in China, have sold millions of the two-wheel, battery-operated vehicles in the United Sates in the past year, with prices ranging from $250 to $1,500. Hoverboards are about the size of a skateboard and have a wheel on each side. Unlike skateboarders, who ride sideways, hoverboard riders face forward as the device carries them ahead, and riders can stop, start, and steer the device with their feet. (It should be noted that hoverboards do not actually hover. Between the board and the ground is a solid pair of wheels.) As hoverboards' popularity has grown, however, reports of sudden fires and injuries from falling have raised safety concerns. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is now reviewing hoverboards, and a set of safety standards for hoverboards is being developed for the first time.
Putting Safety First CPSC Chairman Elliot Kaye issued a statement about hoverboards on Wednesday. He said the agency is working diligently at its lab in Maryland to determine the cause of hoverboard fires. Some of the fires may be linked to the lithium-ion batteries used to power the boards. He recommended that riders never recharge the batteries while they are asleep or out of the house. Patty Davis, CPSC spokeswoman, said the agency has received 40 reports of hoverboards catching fire. Kaye also said that all riders should wear safety equipment such as a skateboard helmets, knee pads and elbow pads when using hoverboards. The agency has received dozens of reports since August of moderate and serious injuries resulting from falls. Kaye said the boards sometimes lurch and throw a rider off balance. The agency suspects this may be related to the size or weight of the rider. The agency is investigating hoverboards manufactured or distributed by 13 companies. Setting Standards Before Selling Kaye called it unacceptable that hoverboards went on sale with no safety standards, and his agency is working with two groups, Underwriters Laboratories and ASTM, to develop some. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and ASTM are voluntary standards organizations. Manufacturers have the option to follow the standards they develop, and most do. Stores often refuse to sell products that that do not meet voluntary standards. The reality is once you develop a standard, if you want to sell hoverboards, no retailer is going to sell the product if it doesn t meet the standard, said John Drengenberg, consumer safety director at UL. Problems with the hoverboard are an "example of what can happen when products go on sale without safety standards, he added. He said the agency will work with manufacturers and experts, but it could take nine months or more for UL to develop standards. ATSM could take two years to produce standards, said Len Morrissey, an ATSM standards development director. Sprained Ankles And Broken Feet Some stores are not selling hoverboards in the meantime. Amazon stopped selling many models in December, and this week the company said it would give customers who had purchased the hoverboards full refunds if they wanted them. It is still not clear how dangerous hoverboards are to ride. In the Pittsburgh area, officials at hospital emergency rooms say they haven t seen a spike in hoverboard injuries. However, Dr. Victor Prisk, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle injuries at the Allegheny Health Network, said he s seen quite a few foot and ankle injuries in adult
hoverboard riders. He said that these injuries occur when riders are thrown from hoverboards or step off them awkwardly. The most common injuries are sprained ankles and broken feet. Those hoverboards seem pretty unstable, he said. There s not much you can do to protect... (your feet). Banned At College, In Air While the CPSC investigates the vehicles and safety standards are established, various groups are taking steps to control hoverboard use. Because of the fear of fire, Carnegie Mellon University has temporarily banned the vehicles from its dormitories, although they can be used on campus for transportation in some areas. Most airlines also have banned the vehicles. The Carolina Panthers football team has told players to quit using hoverboards. Did you see those things on YouTube blowing up and stuff?" said the team's coach, Ron Rivera. "You ve got to be careful, he added.
Quiz 1 Which of the following sentences from the article include CENTRAL ideas of the article? Estimates are that manufacturers, most of them in China, have sold millions of the two-wheel, battery-operated vehicles in the United Sates in the past year, with prices ranging from $250 to $1,500. As hoverboards' popularity has grown, however, reports of sudden fires and injuries from falling have raised safety concerns. Kaye also said that all riders should wear safety equipment such as a skateboard helmets, knee pads and elbow pads when using hoverboards. Amazon stopped selling many models in December, and this week the company said it would give customers who had purchased the hoverboards full refunds if they wanted them. 2 What role does the section "Setting Standards Before Selling" play in the article as a whole? It describes the results of safety standards for products. It gives examples of the process of writing safety standards. It describes the process of developing a standard. It shows the need to put safety standards in place before sales. 3 Which sentence would be BEST to include in a summary of the article? Retailers will demand that the hoverboard meets safety standards. The hoverboard has become popular in the past year in this country. The investigation of problems with the hoverboard will lead to safety standards. The hoverboard has resulted in foot and ankle injuries. 4 What is the purpose of the introduction [paragraphs 1-3] in the overall structure of the article? It gives details about the hoverboard and how to ride it. It offers examples of the recent popularity of the hoverboard. It provides background information on hoverboard sales. It describes safety concerns with the hoverboard.
Answer Key 1 Which of the following sentences from the article include CENTRAL ideas of the article? Estimates are that manufacturers, most of them in China, have sold millions of the two-wheel, battery-operated vehicles in the United Sates in the past year, with prices ranging from $250 to $1,500. As hoverboards' popularity has grown, however, reports of sudden fires and injuries from falling have raised safety concerns. Kaye also said that all riders should wear safety equipment such as a skateboard helmets, knee pads and elbow pads when using hoverboards. Amazon stopped selling many models in December, and this week the company said it would give customers who had purchased the hoverboards full refunds if they wanted them. 2 What role does the section "Setting Standards Before Selling" play in the article as a whole? It describes the results of safety standards for products. It gives examples of the process of writing safety standards. It describes the process of developing a standard. It shows the need to put safety standards in place before sales. 3 Which sentence would be BEST to include in a summary of the article? Retailers will demand that the hoverboard meets safety standards. The hoverboard has become popular in the past year in this country. The investigation of problems with the hoverboard will lead to safety standards. The hoverboard has resulted in foot and ankle injuries. 4 What is the purpose of the introduction [paragraphs 1-3] in the overall structure of the article? It gives details about the hoverboard and how to ride it. It offers examples of the recent popularity of the hoverboard. It provides background information on hoverboard sales. It describes safety concerns with the hoverboard.