This document discusses injuries related to in-line skating. It notes that injuries from in-line skating have more than doubled in recent years, with children under 15 accounting for 60% of injuries. The most common injuries are wrist fractures, followed by head injuries. It emphasizes the importance of wearing protective gear like helmets to reduce injuries and promotes a safety education program.

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