Skateboard Safety

Skateboarding is fun, no doubt a bout it, but it can also lead to injuries – both small like bruises and scraped knees and bigger like torn muscles and fractures. But don’t be alarmed – skateboarding doesn’t have to be all that dangerous if you practice common sense and have good safety gear.

Skateboard safety for kids

Keep in mind that there are special things to consider when it comes to the safety of children. About 50.000 skateboard related injuries are reported in emergency rooms every year, and you can take steps to make sure your kid is not part of that statistic.  Make sure that the board is in the correct size (you can use the skateboard size guide on this page for that).

A young kid have slower reaction times and a higher center of gravity. Therefore, they can be in the risk zone for more injuries, especially to the head. So make sure your child, if below the age of 10, wears a helmet. The helmet should have a tight fit so it doesn’t slide around the head or obstruct the eyes. Another important thing is skateboard pads, which can prevent many unnecessary injuries. More than a third of skateboard injuries are wrist related, so wrist protection is a good idea.

Often, a beginning child are more prone to injuries – so be sure to fit your kid with protective gear while they are inexperienced. While they get better, they often get more comfortable and safe with the basic skating, and might not need all the protective gear all the time. However, more skilled skateboarders will try riskier tricks and stunts, resulting in injuries. So make sure your kid uses the necessary protective gear while trying bigger or new tricks!

Safety while skateboarding

While many steps can be taken to prevent injuries, you and your kid should always be on the look-out for risks while skateboarding. Make sure the ground in the park or area is free free from cracks or bumps. Loose stones or bad concrete can result in the skateboarder losing control or coming to a sudden unforeseen halt.

Make sure that the skateboard is in good shape and control it for any cracks or loose parts. This should be done especially after falling, even if you make it – make sure that your board didn’t take any damage that might risk your safety later on.

Use appropriate space – never skate too close to other people attempting bigger tricks or grinding on rails. You put you and the other people in danger while doing so, so make sure that there is a safe distance to other skaters. Nighttime skateboarding, unless in properly lit areas, is a bad idea because of the bad visibility. So is downhill or high speed caused by holding on to a car or bike – you cannot brake with a skateboard!

All in all – have fun, but have common sense. Don’t try stunts you don’t feel comfortable with and don’t let unnecessary or stupid injuries get in the way of your skateboarding…