An incident that took place this week at South El Monte High School’s shows us that tug of war contests are not as harmless as many might think. During this particular event, the rope being used actually snapped during the competition. Unfortunately, the rope had been wrapped tight around the hands of two seniors, and thus some of the teens’ fingers were severed. The teens were brought to USC Medical Center so that emergency reattachment surgery could be carried out. A doctor from a hospital in New York explains that such incidents are certainly within the realm of possibility when a tug of war rope is wrapped around a person’s hand. Previous incidents took place a few years ago in Minnesota and Colorado. Although these events are certainly a rarity, parents should inform themselves of these dangers and warn their children accordingly, and administrators of events should think twice before putting together a tug of war.
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