Girl Killed in Hammock Accident
A girl in Des Moines, Iowa was involved in an accident her family never saw coming. Hundreds of thousands of people have the same item in their own backyards, and few have considered that the object could be deadly. The 13-year-old girl died in a hammock.
According to reports, Peri Segun, a teenager was set to graduate from the eighth-grade last week. Instead, her parents are planning her funeral. Police say that Peri jumped into a hammock in her backyard. The hammock was secured at one end to a tree and at the other to a pillar of bricks reaching 5-feet in height.
When Peri landed, the pillar crumbled, sending a pile of bricks on top of her. Her father attempted CPR but was unsuccessful. No foul play is suspected, but authorities do believe that the column was not secured properly into the ground.
Accidents like these are tragic, and they serve as reminders to all. Hammocks are not typically considered dangerous, but the way that they are set up can present a hazard. Take a look at your own hammock if you have one, and make sure that you have it installed properly.
A hammock should be attached, at both ends, to a tree or secured post. Alternatively, the hammock may be secured to a special frame made specifically for the swing. Failing to secure a hammock in a safe way can cause an accident that no one expects to happen.
Teach your children to get in and out of hammocks safely. Sit down in the hammock and then swing your legs into it. Finally, lay back if that is what you choose to do. If the hammock feels unstable, get out and look for the cause of the problem. Repair it before the hammock is put back in use.
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