Sliding into disaster!

In 1993, Kransco Group and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released a press release warning consumers that WHAM-O backyard water slides, a popular water toy for kids, is NOT appropriate for use by adults or teenagers. They urged that the products were designed to be used by children, not adults. 

When used by adults or teens there is a great risk of neck injury, even paralysis.  Adults and teenagers (aka “grown-ups”) who dive onto the plastic water slide may land and stop suddenly due to their heavier weight and height.  The abrupt impact could cause permanent spinal cord injury when the adult’s forward momentum shoves the body into the neck, compressing the spinal cord. Quadriplegia or paraplegia are very real possibilities with this kind of injury.   

Lance Van Grouw, a Central Valley Christian (California) basketball stand-out, remains partially paralyzed after injuring his neck and spinal cord on August 8, 2011, while playing on a Slip ‘N Slide. He underwent emergency surgery to remove shattered pieces of his C-5 vertebra that were putting pressure on his spinal cord. He is suffering from some partial paralysis of his legs and torso. Friends and family are hoping that he will eventually regain the use of both, but only after significant physical and rehabilitative therapy.             

This sad incident is a big flashing reminder that these children’s toys are NOT intended for, nor are they safe for adults!

 NOTE:  My daughter was showing me photos of here fantastic north Michigan summer vacation by the lake.  When she showed me this photo I was speechless.  Some things are just so much fun, but in reality they are just  accidents waiting to happen.