'Heelys': Danger Mixes With Fun

Head Injuries Possible From Use Of Popular Sneaker-Roller Skate Combo

(CBS)  The manufacturer says it's doing its part, noting Heelys are athletic gear, just like roller blades or skateboards, even though they're sold in regular stores.

Heelys executive Charlie Beery says, "We strongly encourage all the kids to wear protective gear whenever they can."

A yellow warning label is glued to the bottoms of new Heelys but, Brzezinski notes, the company claims it can't be sued for injuries resulting from the use of Heelys if that sticker is removed.

Beery adds that the company promotes safe behavior with "Team Heelys," a group of young experts who hold "heeling" seminars for kids at stores and parks nationwide.

The company also has videos on its Web site of "heelers" in action.

"Our intention," Beery says, "is to provide them with information about how to safely heel."

But some of the video shows heelers "crashing and burning," tripping, falling, jumping off railings, flying into pools, with no protective padding, and no helmets.

"That is part of the risk," Beery says. That bit of video is supposed to show kids what not to do, he continued.

Brzezinski showed the video to a group of youngsters, and several didn't seem to get the message, instead saying they wanted to do what they saw the heelers doing on the video.