创新英语-Walking-On-Water Balls Could Be Dangerous（在线收听）

The giant transparent balls that have become the latest craze in amusement parks and shopping malls may be dangerous. Some safety experts, including the U.S. government, even say they could be deadly. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) “is urging consumers to stop participating in [this] new type of water-related recreational activity, due to the potential risks of suffocation and drowning”. The CPSC adds: “The fact that the product has no emergency exit and can be opened only by a person outside of the ball significantly heightens the risk of injury or death when a person inside the ball experiences distress. Pre-existing medical conditions, such as heart, lung, or breathing issues, can be made worse by use of this product.”

The water balls were introduced to the world in 2007. They immediately became a huge success because they literally allowed people to walk on water. Manufacturers say there are now thousands across the world. They reject the CPSC’s claims and say there is no danger when the water balls are used properly. A spokesperson said they have up to an hour's worth of air inside them so suffocation would never be a problem, especially as operators allow a maximum of five minutes inside the ball at a time. There could be a problem when people purchase the balls for their own use and are left unsupervised. The ball has no emergency exit and cannot be opened from the inside.