An elementary school student from Colorado saw a balloon on the ground and did what any other 8 year-old schoolboy would do: try to blow it up and score himself a free balloon.
Unfortunately, the deflated rubbery object belonged to an entirely different breed of party favors: it was a used condom.
The student’s teacher required him to immediately wash his face and hands, but he still needs to be tested for a host of sexually transmitted infections, reports Denver’s 7News.
"He's at risk for HIV, Hepatitis C, Herpes, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia,” the boy’s mother, Alicia, told the outlet.
The family’s identity remains confidential to ensure their safety in the ongoing matter. If the boy tests positive for a venereal disease, it could be devastating for everyone involved.
"That would be a lifelong [process], millions of dollars in medical bills,” Alicia told 7News. “I mean this is just an unbelievable tragedy."
Insurance concerns may be exacerbating the family’s duress.
Alicia received a letter from the Colorado School Districts Self Insurance Pool (CSDSIP) that preemptively denied her of any claims. While the correspondence referred to the occurrence as “regrettable,” the insurance provider claims it is not liable for any related damages.
"They will not pay for it because it's taxpayers money and I feel like I'm a taxpayer. So, I mean, this is my son and they failed to protect him,” Alicia said.
Luckily for the boy, local health officials report that the likelihood of infection is low since the condom had been exposed to the elements for quite some time.
While it remains unclear who will cover personal injuries, if any, the school district’s superintendent has expressed plans to install security cameras and increase the number of playground inspections.
