They may be the "in" thing, but hoverboards can injure, even kill. We advise parents to think twice before buying one of these latest fad "toys," and if your kids already have one, don't let them take another ride until you read this.

Last week, 6-year-old Luke and 8-year-old Jack Habash of Whitehall, Lehigh County, were riding their hoverboards through a course that had been set up inside the family home when Luke smelled his hoverboard smoking.He jumped off as the hoverboard started burning and damaged the Habash kitchen before their mother, Dana, was able to eject the burning hoverboard from the home. The boys were not injured, even though Luke was not wearing shoes at the time. Dana Habash suffered minor burns of the hands.Hoverboards (which don't actually hover like those in "Back to the Future") are two-wheeled, battery-powered machines that resemble skateboards, and can move at speeds greater than 10 mph. There are many brands, but they all work in much the same way. One of the most popular brands, Swagway, sells for between $400 and $500; some models are even pricier. Increasingly, because of fires and explosions of their lithium ion batteries and severe injuries, they've become controversial.Hoverboards were the hot new toy this past Christmas season, but the pushback against hoverboards has been as dramatic as their rise in popularity.Within the past two months, they've been banned from public streets in New York City and throughout the United Kingdom. Many shopping malls, airports and airlines have restricted or outright banned them.The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has taken a keen interest in the safety of these devices, which kids and adults alike say is an incredible gateway to high-tech fun.Others are concerned, and we're among them, that they are an inevitable accident waiting to happen. One Houston hospital reported 14 hoverboard injuries between Christmas and New Year's. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, some of the injuries have been serious, including concussions and fractures.In recent tests, Consumer Reports says it found that an unexpected small stick, pebble, dip or bump in the sidewalk can jolt riders into shifting their weight from one side to the other. That shift can make the wheel on one side speed up or slow down, forcing the hoverboard into an unplanned turn. "When that happens," says the report, "it's very easy to fall. At any speed, the rider's feet can quickly be swept away, with the potential for hitting one's head."Safety recommendations include wearing a skateboarding or dual-use helmet, not a bicycle helmet, and having a spotter - someone ready to catch you if you lose your balance.Hoverboard riders are urged to stay away from traffic. In England, a rider fell from his hoverboard into the path of a passing bus and was killed.The CPSC suggests that you look for a certification label like UL before buying a hoverboard. The CPSC also advises customers to report any unexpected falls or issues involving the electrical components - shocks, overheating, fires - to saferproducts.gov.Due to the threat of fire, the CPSC and Consumer Reports both advise users to monitor boards carefully when recharging the battery. Do not leave them plugged into an outlet overnight or when you're away from home.However, not all fires have started while the devices were being charged - in several instances, boards reportedly ignited while they were being ridden, just like the one in Whitehall last week.According to the CPSC, there have been at least 12 lithium ion battery fires in hoverboards in which homes have been damaged or destroyed. Last month, says the CPSC, there were at least 40 reports of hoverboard fires of all types in 19 states."We want to be able to deliver for the public, but we hope they'll be able to appreciate that what's going on right now is a very thorough science-based investigation," said CPSC spokesman Scott Wolfson. But hoverboards are brand-new. "It's a product without a safety standard," Wolfson says.A number of airlines, including United, American, Alaska, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue and Southwest have banned hoverboards on passenger flights for fear of spontaneous fires. The U.S. Postal Service will no longer deliver hoverboards. Major retailers, such as Target, have temporarily suspended sales, and overstock.com has stopped selling hoverboards outright. Amazon.com decided in January to offer full refunds on any hoverboards that it sold in the U.S. or Canada.More than 50 colleges and universities have declared bans on these scooter-type devices. On Jan. 29, the University of Delaware became the latest to do so because of the high number of fires associated with hoverboards. University officials said they are banning the use, storage and charging of the devices on its campus, effective immediately. Anyone in possession of a hoverboard on campus will be asked to remove it from university property. Those who fail to comply could be subject to sanctions.The national association of fire marshals has issued warnings all across the country about hoverboards. Deputy Fire Marshal Shawn Hilbert of the Pennsylvania State Police unit at Hazleton said he has not been contacted to investigate any hoverboard incidents within his jurisdiction, although he has been keeping abreast of the dangers associated with the lithium ion batteries. He also said he has not had any reports of hoverboard fires from local fire officials.BRUCE FRASSINELLI |

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