This document discusses the growing dangers of in-line skating, especially for children. It reports that the Consumer Product Safety Commission projected 83,000 serious skating injuries in 2008, over double the previous year. Children under 15 accounted for 60% of injuries, with head injuries being the most disabling. The article advocates for safety education and protective gear like helmets certified to bicycle safety standards. It introduces a new Safety on Wheels program promoting safe skating practices and gear to help reduce injuries.

1. Volume 5, Issue 1  J u n e 2 0 0 8
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Bycicle and In-Line Skating Safety News

In-L ine S ka tin g -F aste st Growing Sp ort
miles per hour, and you’ve got group of
Injuries “accidents” waiting to happen. children,
Up Most injuries are wrist fractures, we could
diminish
Dramatica followed by elbows or lower arm
fractures. Head injuries are not this
lly negative
far behind. In fact, the CPSC
by Mary Beth Luhrsen projected that in 2008, 7,000 peer
Last year, the Consumer Product people would sustain head pressure.
Safety Commission (CPSC) injuries—by far the most Our
released some alarming news on potentially disabling and even strategy worked, and the Ride
in-line skating, now the fastest fatal of all in-line skating injuries. Safe program has already
growing recreational sport in convinced 300,000 people at
America. They projected 83,000 Fortunately, safety education and over 2,500 schools to wear
serious injuries in 2008, more appropriate protection can make bicycle helmets.
than double those of 2007. Even a difference. The International In-
Line Skating Association (IISA) In 2002, we expanded our
more alarming is the fact that program to include educational
children under age 15 account recommends helmets be certified
to the ANSI, ASTM, or Snell materials and protective gear for
for 60% of these injuries. another very popular sport—in-
bicycle helmet safety standards.
Remember to think “Safety on line skating. Our new Safety on
™
Wheels” in 2008. Wheels program includes safety
A Message to Pare
nts
The point is that in-line skating by Mary Beth and Dane Luhrsen
can be quite dangerous. Skaters For the past four years, Ride Safe
often share the pavement with has been committed to
cars, trucks, bicyclists, promoting safe bicycling and
pedestrians, and pets and bicycle helmets. We started with
encounter loose gravel, potholes, our own four children (ages 2–8),
puddles, and cracks. Add to that who didn’t want to wear helmets
the fact that it is possible to because their friends didn’t wear
achieve speeds exceeding 30 them. We thought if we could

2. offer “cool” looking helmets to a gear made by Skating—In Line,
“the choice of champions.”
We hope you will play an active
role in your children’s “Safety on
Wheels” and give serious
consideration to purchasing
protective equipment for your
entire family. If you have any
questions about Ride Safe
products and services, please call
us at 800-555-RIDE.