Hoverboard safety

By Tracey Sutherland, cPNP

Trauma Nurse Practitioner

Boston Children’s Hospital

Self-balancing scooters, commonly referred to as hoverboards, became wildly popular in 2015, when several manufacturers developed similar versions and marketed them in the United States and around the world. Right from the start of their popularity, safety issues were identified, leading to significant consumer concern and soon after, thousands of recalls.  There have been several deaths directly linked to the use of hoverboards, whether related to injury while using the board or fire while recharging.  Emergency Departments, pediatric as well as adult facilities, around the world began to see an acute elevation in hoverboard injury.  Falls from the boards lead to concussions and more serious head injuries, fractures, internal abdominal injuries, hand injuries, and even death.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Committee (CPSC) launched a safety investigation and linked the hoverboard’s lithium-ion battery pack to the source of the fires. They developed a voluntary safety standard and urged suppliers to only import and sell those boards that were certified by the CPSC. This helped make the newer versions of the hoverboards much safer, however, safety issues remain and not all the boards have been certified to CPSC standard. Fatalities related to uncertified hoverboard fires have occurred as recently as 2 months ago in the U.S.

Due to the increase in hoverboard related traumatic injuries, the Department of Health in several countries has recommended a minimum age of use as well as restricted where the hoverboards can be used. Some cities in the U.S. have banned their use on public streets, restricted use to bike lanes or have implemented speed restrictions.

What does this all mean to the consumer? Can a hoverboard be used safely? If you’d still like to enjoy the use of a hoverboard, here are some tips to follow to keep you and your family safe:

  • Check online for all recalled hoverboards to be sure the device you currently have is not on the list. www.cpsc.gov/recalls
  • Purchase the board from a reputable source and know who to contact should you have any issues. Only purchase a hoverboard from a manufacturer that has been certified as safe by the CPSC. A certified device will have indication that the product is UL 2272 compliant.
  • Let the device cool for an hour or more prior to re-charging and store it in a cool vented area free of combustibles. Have a fire extinguisher close by.
  • Re-charge the battery during the day in an open well-ventilated area. Do not charge the hoverboard unattended or at night while you are asleep.
  • Do NOT ride near vehicular traffic.
  • Safety equipment must be donned for every ride for every user. This should include: helmet, elbow and knee protection, and wrist guards for protection from falls.

If you choose to dispose of your hoverboard, take it to the local recycling center for safe handling of the lithium-ion battery.