Feds: 'Walking On Water' Balls Could Kill You

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A federal watchdog group says you could drown if you try to walk on water — even if it's inside a novelty flotation device.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is issuing a strong warning to stay away from Water Walking Balls, the large inflatable plastic bubbles that children and even adults can get inside and use to walk on water.

"These are very popular with children, and that's particularly concerning because a child can get zipped inside of this, have some air pumped in, run in the ball, run out of oxygen and can suffocate," said CPSC's Patty Davis.

"Also, if you run into something and the ball punctures, you can drown because the water will seep in...you cannot get out," added Davis.

Bruce Spitzer, the owner of Euro-Bungee, the company which has sold over 200 of these large inflatable plastic balls in the U.S., says the government warning is a "huge overreaction".

"Most of these are being used by ride operators who are responsible, and the ride operators know how to use them safely and know how to keep them safe," said Spitzer.

The entertainment devices are mostly found in amusement parks and water attractions, but some are also available on the private market.

(©2010 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)