WOODBURY, MN (WNN) – The Woodbury Public Safety Department shared on social media that it received several calls over the weekend about young people participating in Nerf Wars. In this activity students shoot each other with foam projectiles in an attempt to be the last one standing.

While the toys are usually benign in the hands of younger children, high school-aged Nerf warriors often face additional dangers as they drive while pursuing their targets, hide for surprise attacks, run in traffic, and even enter houses in search of their targets. Even more concerning is that some of the Nerf weapons look enough like real guns that a player could be shot by law enforcement or another person who thinks there is a real danger.

Woodbury police advise youth who choose to play the game to make safe choices, follow traffic laws (including seat belt use), play with brightly-colored Nerf guns, respect other people and property, and avoid disorderly conduct. Nerf warriors should avoid fleeing police officers if confronted.

The police also ask that parents of high school students have frank conversations with their children about the dangers of the activity. This is especially important because some versions of the game promise monetary awards to the last participant who is not shot. The cash rewards provide additional motives for joining the game.

The warning from the Woodbury police comes after a weekend where a 16-year-old waiting to ambush another player was run over by a classmate in Sauk Rapids, Minn., and a remembrance was held for boys who were killed in Lakeville, Minn., while playing and driving.

The public safety department intends to enforce relevant laws and ordinances and asks for community cooperation to keep everyone safe.