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A game of tug-of-war resulted in the loss of multiple fingers for two students at a Los Angeles County high school on Monday, officials said.
Students at South El Monte High School were competing against each other in a lunchtime game when the rope snapped, amputating four fingers from a male student's right hand and four fingers from a female student's right hand, plus the thumb on her left hand, Los Angeles County supervising fire dispatcher Eddie Pickett told NBC News.
The students, both 18 years old, were transported to a trauma center, he said. Another 17-year-old female student was taken to a trauma center for anxiety, he said.
"They are both stable and the parents were by their bedside," Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center spokeswoman Rosa Sacca told The San Gabriel Valley Tribune on Monday. "They were getting ready to be taken to the operating room to try to re-attach the fingers."
No update on the students' surgery was provided, and a call from NBC News to the medical center was not returned Tuesday morning.
Pickett said he believed the amputations occurred because the rope was actually wrapped around the students' hands, instead of just being grasped in their hands. He told NBC News that the extra force caused the rope to snap, which then resulted in the injuries.
The game was part of a Spirit Week at South El Monte High School, according to The San Gabriel Valley Tribune. The girl who lost her fingers is varsity soccer player, and the boy is a football player, reported the paper.
The school hasn't said if it will cancel future tug-of-war games.
"We'll review the activity with district administration," El Monte Union High School District Assistant Superintendent Edward Zuniga told The San Gabriel Valley Tribune. "We're in the early stages. We just want to make sure we have all the facts straight before we talk about changing activities."
NBC's Liza Torres contributed to this report from Burbank, Calif.
Leave a Comment:
People who joke about a horror such as this aren't even people. They're monsters.
finger monsters
dont be pointing that finger at me
Good thing I grew up watching the Three Stooges. Those nitwits did everything so wrong that they actually showed me how to be aware of all my surroundings. Especially watch what others do around me so they don't hurt me "accidently". Also playing tug of war as a kid I wrapped the rope around my arm. They pulled and it strangled my hands and quickly learned to never wrap it like that again.
The solution is simple. Make the rope big enough to where it can't be wrapped easily. That's what we did back in the day.
Good thinking.
Safety First!
Razor wire is a bad substitute for rope.
These kids will definitely be at a disadvantage in this new-fangled digital age...
Now if they had only gotten their heads into the game...
We will need a senate inquiry into this tragedy,before the Messiah implements obamarope to save us all from future disasters like this.As a nation we should all kneel down and face Washington DC and give thanks to the grate leader.Liberals of coarse will be leading us in worship.
Oh, great. Now there will arise from the Masses, a great cry - demanding the immediate banishment of tug-of-war ropes from our society. For our own good, of course.
::rolling eyes::
::tapping paw::
going to have to learn how to wright again if they damaged there dominate hand. That sucks
Never wrap the rope around.
Never.
Hopefully neither student lost their trigger finger...
Thats why you always practice with both hands when shooting in case that happens
let this be a lesson to you...tug of war should not be played by wrapping the rope around your fingers or hand or wrist or any body part!
It's all fun and games till somebody loses a finger
puts a whole new twist on the phrase ' pull my finger '
Your leaders allow this, folks. This has been going on since forever.
Your leaders have fun watching you tug at each other, and you bow down to their whims, pulling and tugging at each other until you lose your fingers.
Your leaders are corrupt.
I think we need tighter rope control in this country....lol....sorry, that was bad.
No dodgeball, now no tug a war. get rid of PE its to dangerous
It is very important that we blame and convict someone for this before the truth leaks out and confuses people. Who has Obama blamed for this
Doesn't matter, but look for the bandaged hands in the video op!
Those parents needs to sue:
The school.
The school board.
The principal.
The teachers.
Each others parents.
The State.
The Department of Homeland Security.
The MSN who didn't pay them to run the story.
The president.
They need to get the ACLU involved ASAP! This is how America rolls.
OK, it is time to register all ropes. Anyone who has ever played such a violent game as tug-o-war knows just how dangerous it can be. People have succumbed to rope burns, lost flanges, fallen into mud holes, ditches, etc, it is just by the will of God that someone has not been accidently lynched. Stop the madness, register your rope today. There will be a rope buy-back program coming to a neighborhood near you.
Bloomerberg, obiden, and the AZ chick will be known now "time" magazines cover as the " Hangmen, the rope that burns " or simply " Tug-o-war, hanging by a thread".
My criminal little sisters used to actually skip rope - irresponsible and criminal behavior! I only admit it now because I think the statute of limitations has expired. (And I can do it anonymously - the humiliation!)
Damn, now tug a war will become illegal and we will have to place armed guards in all the schools to make sure no one brings a rope to school!
You're a moron and a thug.
Holly... Typical liberal democrat reverting to name calling. I can play your way also... you are a Dumb B!tch!
Now, now, children. Play nice or Momma will have to bring a (properly licensed and registered) rope!
Similar things have happened so often historically that the phrase "Tug-of-war-no-more!" should be taught (or taut if you prefer) to first graders.
Ooh! "Taut." That was good!
I have no idea how to make the world safe for liberals unless they are put in padded cells...
Think "Bubble Boy."
I just want to add another potential hazzard that has been plaquing human kind for a long time, a danger that has gone unreported for at least a century or more, and that is the infamous paper cut. Do you have any idea how many people fall victim to this hazzard yearly? How much lost time is accrued by literally thousands of people being cut to ribbons by a simple piece of paper in and every year, a silent assault weapon? Do you have any idea as to the dangers it could befall one in the hands of a child? Time to go paperless ladies and gentlemen. If the paper were to slip further up your forearm you are in immediate danger of slitting your wrist.
When is obama going to get a handle on this silent killer?
Oh my god, your right. But what about rubber bands and paperclips? Just think what could happen
Sadly, Southside, rubber bands and paper clips have been "brought under control" in our classrooms as part of the "zero tolerance" policies against violence - outright bans in places. Google it if you don't believe me.