The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has warned consumers to stop participating in water-walking balls, calling them unsafe, with the possibility that they could lead to suffocation or drowning. We at Romanucci & Blandin not only underscore the dangers but don’t believe the government went far enough. These dangerous recreational devices should be banned.

Commonly used at amusement parks, fairs and malls, the inflatable spheres are often used by children. A rider climbs into the ball, which is then zipped up. It rolls along the water's surface as the rider walks, much like a hamster on a wheel.

At least three states -- Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New Jersey -- have issued denials of a permit to use the balls.

A big concern is the lack of an emergency exit. The balls can be opened only from the outside, not the inside. Manufacturers say the balls are safe, with hundreds of thousands of them in use worldwide. The owner of a company that distributes the balls in the U.S. says he responded to the government’s concerns by proposing that manufacturers install an internal handle so riders can open the balls.

The balls contain about 90 minutes' worth of oxygen. A ride typically lasts five to seven minutes.