Hoverboards: Are They Safe? -- What You Need to Know!

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Many people would actually think that hoverboards are cool. These new self-balancing machines that look more like a skateboard are a hit with kids and grown people alike. Sales of the boards have skyrocketed especially during the holidays as they are being sold like hotcakes in the market.

Anyone can have so much fun when riding a hoverboard, that even celebrities dig this hottest toy of the year.

As the board is getting more popular with people, safety issues are starting to get recognition as reports about accidents and mechanical issues have already hit the news.

There have been reports of this new toy catching fire; there are even reported cases that the board exploded. This doesn't sound really good for people who have already bought this pricey toy.

According to a report from WebMD, a father from Milwaukee named Adam Collelo thought he had everything all planned out for his son's birthday. He surprised his 12-year-old kid with a hoverboard. which he bought for $499.

He thought it was cool to see his kid having fun on the board and decided to try it himself.

"I got on, got the hang of it, and everything was going good," said the father.

On the following day, he said he got overconfident and tried to do some tricks.

"I kind of Super-manned off it and somersaulted.'' He stated that he did not feel anything as soon as he landed. His body just went numb.

Adam was brought to the emergency room with a severely swollen arm. They later found out that he had his radius fractured and may need to take 12 weeks off from work. It basically did not turn out the way he planned it to.

Meanwhile, some cities in the country are banning the hoverboards from their sidewalks and roads. They are not even allowing it to be brought onto planes. Some models of the machine have been put off the market by retailers like Overstock and Amazon, CNET reported.

Federal officials from Consumer Product Safety Commission have already conducted an investigation with regard to the hazard of the board. The chairman of the agency, Elliot F. Kaye, has announced a week ago that they will work nonstop to get to the bottom of the toy's fire hazard issue.

"Every consumer who is riding a hoverboard, who purchased one to give as a gift during the holidays or who is thinking about buying one deserves to know if there is a safety defect," the chairman said.