Those foamy clogs called "crocs" are hot-sellers with kids, they're perfect for wearing to the pool, and they're frequently seen on the feet of nurses I pass at Quik Trip stores in the middle of the night. But once again, they're under fire for the strangest of reasons.
An AP report this morning says that a Pittsburgh hospital has banned its staff from wearing crocs for being a safety hazard. The reason, according to the hospital's infection control manager, is that someone might drop a syringe through the holes in the toes.
Huh?
First of all, the sneakers I usually wear every day wouldn't offer much protection from a falling syringe. And secondly, just how often do syringes go flying, anyway? It seems like if this was such a common problem we'd have heard about it happening, at least once.
A Swedish hospital has also banned them because crocs apparently build up static electricity that has zapped some expensive hospital equipment. That ban, at least, makes some sense. And a hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas says it's seen a number of children come to the ER after getting crocs caught in escalators. Apparently, the "teeth" on the escalator steps can chew through the shoes - all the way to the toes. Ouch!
It's not unusual to see new products have safety concerns, but these three cases probably present the most unusual combination of safety worries for anything I can think of. So far, no official source has recommended pulling them off the market, but people are suggesting using caution.
Personally, I think it's all a conspiracy from the flip-flop industry.
Jeff Field
NBC Action News Executive Producer