Tug-of-war can be a dangerous game, expert warns

It may be a childhood game, but tug-of-war injuries can be serious and lead to permanent consequences.

Edith Rodriguez and Pablo Ocegueda, students in South El Monte High School in South El Monte, Calif., were playing tug-of-war during a lunchtime spirit week activity when their fingers were severed by the rope, CBS station KCBS in Los Angeles reported.

"They wrapped the rope around their hands and somehow the rope when on to snap, I guess it created some extra tension and caused the injuries," Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Brian Riley told KNX 1070.

Students initially cheered when the rope broke, but then quickly realized what happened. According to KTLA, about 40 students were participating in the game.

"They were just both in shock, staring at their hands. They didn't know what to do," Jennifer Jiminez, a freshman at the school told KCBS.

Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center confirmed to CBSNews.com that the students were brought there after the incident, and that they underwent surgery last night to reattach their fingers. They currently are in stable condition.

• So. Cal. tug-of-war turns gruesome for two

"Loops, knots and other types of 'holdings' -- used to wrap the rope around hands or any part of the body is extremely dangerous -- and can place individuals at risk for finger and hand injuries, including traumatic amputations and joint dislocations," Dr. Robert Glatter, emergency medicine physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, told CBSNews.com by email. He was not involved treating the students.

Though he sees more tug-of-war rope burn injuries than amputations, Glatter understands how it could happen.

"When using a rope that is coated or slippery, there is often a tendency to wrap it around ones hand to obtain a better grip. This is actually against the 'rules' which states that the rope should be held with a natural grip, with both palms facing upward with fingers wrapped around the rope," Glatter explained, adding that if you loop your hands around the rope it's harder to let go of it.

These are not the first reported injuries caused by tug-of-war

In 1997, two men lost their left arms during a tug-of-war contest with more than 1,600 participants in Taipei, Taiwan, Reuters reported. Two Colorado boys partially severed their hands during a tug-of-war game between Lutheran High School's senior and junior football players in 2007, KUSA-TV reported.

Glatter said players should never loop their limbs with the rope to get a better grip.

"It is important for a tug-of-war game organizer working with adults or children to carefully review safety issues, and proper techniques with all participants," he said.

[tugsafe]

Stop tug of war injurys get a POWERPULL tug of war rope it is simple.Tug of war is the greatest game ever it needs to be in all schools and summer camps to teach teamwork and cooperation just like in yrs ago The rope is the problem not tug of war Thanks

[tugsafe]

Well Tug Of War is the top teambuilder and coopperational game ever it is used in china and other countrys to promote disipline and working as a team to pull together and win . Tug Of war is played in schools, summercamps and colleges intermurals .We need this played in all our schools and all students love it no matter what size you are you can compete. The schools use ropes and ropes of cotton ropes, of poly,and manila it is cheap and thats how it is ropes are made fast and simple and cost is low but we all know Tug Of war is not the problem the ROPE is .ALL sports from basketball, soccer,baseball,golf,football,track and field,ect ect have all improved there equipment and playing feilds spending millions on safety improvements just think if a nfl football game the players used the same suit and shoes and helments for there next game there would be several injurys in that game . TUG OF WAR is great and is in out fiber make the rope is the problem There is a products called POWERPULL ® tug of war rope it is us patented and us registered trademarked and has many built-in safety features that STOP all injurys of any kind .Look for Powerpull ® tug Of War ropes on the web and see all the biggest P E supplyers carry them all of them but the schools continue to buy most of the time the cheapest lowest priced which is rope.Powerpull® tug of war ropes will not break they last forever and ever so come on and spend $15.00 more and get the best for the students of our schools and summercamps and churches. No rope burns ,No lose of hands ,no lose of fingers ,no elbows in the eyes, no injurys of any kind so lets tell our schools spend $15.00 more on a POWERPULL® safe tug of war rope they last forever it is a small price to pay less that a hamburger and frys and you save fingers ,cuts,abrasions, lose of hands,you have the greatest game ever with out injurys take a look and think about it all the schools will be having field day events this month and next month so let us stop these injurys God bless our kids..........

[hypnotoad72]

Just ban ropes.

There, at least I got to say it inanely before all the sarky tightyrighties did...

A safe solution already exists for the Tug of War. Several years ago, after running camps and church programs for many years and using Tug of War ropes, I became frustrated because it was potentially so dangerous. Over the next several years I developed the 'OCT-O-PULL" as the solution. We have used the game successfully for many years with no injuries. Now may be the time for schools and other groups to make the change to a game that is much more fun to watch than the typical tug of war.