SOUTH EL MONTE, Calif. (KTLA) — Two students at South El Monte High School are recovering after their fingers were severed during a game of tug of war.
The game was part of the spirit week festivities at the school. About 40 students were participating in the contest, which was held at lunchtime, according to people who were there.
The rope snapped, and when it did, it somehow severed fingers from the hands of a male and female student.
Edith Rodriguez is a senior and a soccer player. Pablo Ocegueda is also a senior and is active in sports.
Both were taken by ambulance to County USC Medical Center.
Doctors on Monday performed surgery on them to reattach the fingers.
This is not the first time there has been a serious injury involving tug of war.
What happens is that people’s fingers or hands or arms get caught or wrapped around in the rope.
The rope then gets pulled very tight, increasing the pressure enough to sever a finger or even a limb.
In Minnesota in 2008, a girl lost four fingers during a game of tug of war when the rope wrapped around her hand.
And in Taiwan in 1997, two men had their arms severed and 40 other people were hurt in a tug-of-war involving more than 1,600 people.
Apparently, there are safe ways to have a tug-of-war. According to the International Tug of War Federation, you want to use a particular kind of rope to prevent injuries.
Spirit week is continuing at South El Monte High School. The school said counselors are on hand for any students who need to talk to someone.
The school district is reviewing its policies to see if tug of war will be allowed in the future.