1. Volume 5, Issue 1  June 2012
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Bicycle and In-Line Skating Safety News 
I N L INE S KATING -F ASTEST G ROWING S PORT
Injuries Up Dramatically potentially disabling and even In 2002, we expanded our
by Mary Beth Luhrsen fatal of all in-line skating injuries. program to include educational
Fortunately, safety education materials and protective gear for
Last year, the Consumer Product another very popular sport—in-
Safety Commission (CPSC) and appropriate protection can
make a difference. The line skating. Our new Safety on
released some alarming news on Wheels™ program includes safety
in-line skating, now the fastest International In-Line Skating
Association (IISA) recommends gear made by Skating—In Line,
growing recreational sport in “the choice of champions.”
America. They projected 83,000 helmets be certified to the ANSI,
serious injuries in 2008, more ASTM, or Snell bicycle helmet We hope you will play an
than double those of 2007. Even safety standards. Remember to active role in your children’s
more alarming is the fact that think “Safety on Wheels” in 2008. “Safety on Wheels” and give
children under age 15 account serious consideration to
for 60% of these injuries. purchasing protective equipment
A Message to Parents for your entire family. If you have
The point is that in-line by Mary Beth and Dane Luhrsen any questions about Ride Safe
skating can be quite dangerous. products and services, please call
Skaters often share the For the past four years, Ride Safe
has been committed to us at 800-555-RIDE.
pavement with cars, trucks,
bicyclists, pedestrians, and pets promoting safe bicycling and
and encounter loose gravel, bicycle helmets. We started with
potholes, puddles, and cracks. our own four children (ages 2–8),
Add to that the fact that it is who didn’t want to wear helmets
possible to achieve speeds because their friends didn’t wear
exceeding 30 miles per hour, and them. We thought if we could
you’ve got “accidents” waiting to offer “cool” looking helmets to a
happen. group of children, we could
diminish this negative peer
Most injuries are wrist pressure. Our strategy worked,
fractures, followed by elbows or and the Ride Safe program has
lower arm fractures. Head already convinced 300,000
injuries are not far behind. In people at over 2,500 schools to
fact, the CPSC projected that in wear bicycle helmets.
2008, 7,000 people would sustain
head injuries—by far the most