New numbers show that as of July 27, 84 people have been injured in 77 incidents involving Wego Kite Tubes in the U.S., including two deaths, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). At least one death has been linked to the Wego Kite Tube in Canada.

The Wego is a 10-foot, round and inflatable tube designed to be towed behind power boats. Riders can lift the tube off the water when speeds of 20 to 40 mph are reached. The tube can rise as high 60 feet, according to some users.

Kite tubes provide a new form of adrenaline rush and the falls provide some amazing video footage for frat house fodder, but officials say the dangers are extreme.

"They are hard to control and can lift users as high as 40 feet into the air. The impact from falling from these sorts of heights at such a high rate of speed into the water would be similar to hitting concrete," said Dave Harris, boating coordinator for Utah State Parks and Recreation.

Rangers at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in southern Utah and northern Arizona first noticed various forms of tube kites - Kite Tube is trademarked by SportsStuff Inc. -- on Lake Powell in April. Four serious injuries and multiple minor incidents forced National Park Service officials to ban tube kites at Glen Canyon in mid-June.

Utah State Parks and Recreation officials haven't banned the aerial devices from the state's public waters yet, but the agency is making sure people understand how dangerous they can be.

Harris said there have been at least two unreported cases of individuals requiring a trip to the hospital after falling from tube kites at state parks. He reminds boaters that any accident involving death, medical treatment beyond basic first aid or combined property damage greater than $2,000 is required by law to be reported.

State Parks personnel will begin hanging safety posters discouraging the use of tube kites and will issue a warning on the Web page, http://www.stateparks.utah.gov.

SportsStuff Inc. placed a voluntary recall on 19,000 Wego Kite Tubes in cooperation with the CPSC in July. Injuries range from broken necks, to punctured lungs to head trauma.

In addition to the Wego, Glen Canyon Recreation Area officials also banned all forms of tube kites including the Manta by Sevylor.

Julie Vallese, CPSC director of public affairs, can't say whether Sevylor officials have been asked to recall the Manta, but did confirm that the agency's tube kite investigation included all products in that category.

Contact Brett Prettyman at brettp@sltrib.com or 801-257-8902. Send comments to livingeditor@sltrib.com.

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