Posted on 02/05/2013 8:25:08 AM PST by Responsibility2nd
SOUTH EL MONTE - An innocent game of tug-of-war turned tragic Monday afternoon when two South El Monte High School students had their fingers severed.
Tug-of-war is a competitive game in which two teams pull, or tug, on a rope in opposite directions in a show of strength.
The students, a boy and a girl, were participating in the lunchtime Spirit Week activity celebrating homecoming when they were injured, El Monte Union High School District Assistant Superintendent Edward Zuniga said. Neither he nor other district officials would release the students' names or ages.
The girl is a senior and varsity soccer player, while the boy is a football player.
Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Miguel Garcia said firefighters responded at 12:20 p.m. to the school at 1001 Durfee Ave.
"Fingers (were) amputated during some type of tug-of-war," Garcia said. "They were transported by ambulance to a trauma center."
The students were taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center after their fingers were torn off, Fire Department officials said.
"They are both stable and the parents were by their bedside," said hospital spokeswoman Rosa Sacca. "They were getting ready to be taken to the operating room to try to re-attach the fingers."
Authorities didn't say how many fingers the girl and the boy lost.
It is unknown how many other teens were participating in the tug-of-war, Zuniga said.
"At this point we're trying to find out more information," Zuniga said.
It is unclear whether the school or the El Monte Union High School District will change their policies on campus activities.
"We'll review the activity with district administration," Zuniga said. "We're in the early stages. We just want to make sure we have all the facts straight before we talk about changing activities."
"Fingers (were) amputated during some type of tug-of-war," Garcia said. "They were transported by ambulance to a trauma center."
And while I'm happy to know the fingers were transported by ambulance, I do wonder about the students. Did they get a ride too?
Probably used cheap nylon rope. This stuff has happened before.
Not until after the school got permission from the parents...
What were they using, piano wire?
How can one (or several) not let go of a rope?
Sad, but it reminds me of those insurance policies they used to sell at school, with a certain value for loss of life, and different amounts for the loss of each body part.
(Tug-of-)War is hell!
Having fingerS RIPPED off of the hand takes some extraordinary torque. Likely more than what would be expected in a simple, hang on and pull type, tug of war. The Raven's Offensive line might be able to break some fingers and potentially tear some flesh with a well coordinated jerk of the rope. But elbows and shoulders would come loose (and drop the rope) before you would think fingers are severed (or ripped off).
Were they playing tug of war with bailing wire or thin steel cable? Were their hands taped to the rope? Were they trying to tug on a vehicle that suddenly accelerated? Something is missing I tell ya.
Of COURSE you are ... it's friggin' left coast California.
SOMEone's gonn'a pay for the idiot kids an' it WON'T be them nor their parents.
Students need to remember they don’t have “real” superpowers like they do in video games and movies /s
Common sense would tell you if your fingers feel like they are starting to be pulled out of their sockets you should let go. I forget public schools teach socialism and not common sense.../s
There will be an investigation and lawsuits. All schools throughout the country will immediately suspend games involving ropes. Children who bring in pieces of string will be sent to the principal’s office. Kids who draw images of rope will be expelled.
No. And, they won't be able to find out anything either, due to HIPPA requirements.
There's exposition, there's AP style and then there's statement of the bleeding obvious.
Must have got caught in the rope somehow. Being able to hold on hard enough to pull your own finger off would be very rare, I think.
Jump Rope is an assault weapon..............
“... were their hands taped to the rope?”
I’m trying to figure out the physics part of this story. I wonder if you twirl/twist the rope around your fingers... if a finger(s) can be yanked off. If so, wouldn’t just the skin be pulled off. I agree... something is missing from the story.
Rope can be quite strong.
Rope can be quite strong.
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