Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 17, 1990                   TAG: 9005170117
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Cox News Service
DATELINE: DAYTON, OHIO                                LENGTH: Medium

`TURTLES' IMITATORS RUN RISKS/ SEWER SHELL GAME CALLED A HAZARD

Now, public safety officials are concerned they may be encouraging children to play in sewers.

Public safety officials have received reports of one drowning, several near drownings and other accidents that involved children playing the part of the Ninja Turtles.

Although there haven't been a large number of reports, some concerned public officials have launched campaigns to prevent further accidents.

The near drowning of a 3-year-old and 4-year-old boy who were playing Ninja Turtles in a sewer culvert in Ohio last month prompted Fire Department officials to launch an effort to warn parents.

Anna Jensen, a Fire Department public education specialist, said the department asked various emergency medical service publications throughout the country to advise other departments of the potential dangers.

Jensen said the department would also ask the National Safety Council to spread the word that playing Ninja Turtles might not be simply fun and games.

"When you're talking about preschoolers they have no concept of the dangers," she said. "The concern is that great numbers who are attracted to this."

In Lombard, Ill., a boy dropped a manhole cover on his foot while playing Ninja Turtles about four weeks ago, a city official said.

The official said the city embarked on a public awareness campaign after the accident because of the potential dangers. The city issued news releases and contacted the local newspaper.

"People don't realize that while it's cute in the movie, it's not cute in real life," he said.

Officials said dangerous gases such as methane and hydrogen sulfide pervade some sewer systems.

Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, live in sewers, eat pizza and have gone from comic book characters to movie stars and have become a hit among children.