The Office of Consumer Affairs is today providing an update on the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) investigation into the safety risks of hoverboards. The CPSC has not made any determinations to date about the safety of the specific brands they are investigating. However, the CPSC is looking into dozens of fires involving hoverboards, which are also called 'smart boards' or 'self-balancing boards'.

According to the CPSC, many of the hoverboard fires occurred indoors and could have resulted in serious injuries if not for the quick actions of consumers to extinguish the fires. The CPSC considers this investigation a priority and is devoting the necessary resources to find the root causes of the fires.

CPSC engineers continue to test hoverboards – new models and those involved in fire incidents – at their National Product Testing and Evaluation Center in Rockville, MD.

CPSC is actively investigating the safety of hoverboards made and/or sold by:

Smart Balance Wheel/One Stop Electronic Inc.

Smart Balance Wheel Scooter/Glide Boards

Hover-way Hands-Free Electric/Digital Gadgets LLC

Swagway Hands-Free Smart Board/Swagway LLC

Smart Balance Board/I Lean Hoverboards

E-Rover-Mini Smart Balance Scooter/LeCam Technology

Smart Balance Wheels/Kateeskitty

Hoverboard360.com

iMOTO/Keenford Limited

YOOLIKED

Smart Balance Wheel/Luxiyan and

Uwheels

E-Rover Smart Balance Wheel

“It is important to reiterate that the CPSC has not made any determinations to date about the safety of these brands and none have been recalled by the CPSC,” stressed Karen Marshall, Executive Officer of Consumer Affairs.“Consumer Affairs will continue to provide updates and warnings to the Bermuda public as we receive them from the CPSC. Residents who may still be considering purchasing a hoverboard should heed all of the guidance provided here, do plenty of research, buy from a reputable retailer and, if buying overseas, check with the airlines regarding restrictions on flights.”

Consumer Affairs urges consumers who own hoverboards to use them with great caution and to take note of the following recommendations:

• Have a working fire extinguisher nearby while charging or using these boards in and around your home.
• Charge in an open area away from combustible materials.
• Do not charge it unattended, overnight or when you are not at home. The board should only be charged when someone is present and paying attention to it.
• Wear appropriate safety equipment including a helmet, elbow pads, wrist guards and knee pads to avoid serious injuries in the event of a fall.
• Do not use a hoverboard on or near a road.

For more information about the CPSC’s hoverboard investigation as well as important information on recalled products, consumers are encouraged to visit the CPSC website – www.cpsc.gov.