Skateboarding can be fun, but at other times if you don’t take the proper precautions, it can be a dangerous sport.
Be sure to always take caution when you skate and always skate with in your abilities. The following few tips are on how you skate safely.
Skateboarding is a popular recreational and fitness activity for anyone interested.
The ( ABS ) Australian bureau of statistics survey conducted in 2003 in cultural and leisure activities reported that
604,500 Aussie kids aged 5-14 rode a skateboard or roller blades outside of school hours in the 2 weeks prior to the survey.
That's a lot of kids interested in skateboarding. So let's encourage them to be their best and at the same time to stay safe.
Warm up and cool down before and after a session
Make sure your board is suited to your size and the type of skateboarding you are doing
Check all your safety equipment is Australian safety standards approved
So, How many injuries ?
Over a three year period (2001-2003), there were at least 3000 skateboarding injuries requiring hospital admission
Male skateboarders are more inclined to require a visit to hospital than their female counterparts.
A high percentage of around 65% were aged 10 -17 years old.
The major cause of sk8 injuries are falls.
More than half of skateboarding injuries are to the upper body parts including wrists and forearm fractures,
hand and finger fractures and sprains, and not forgetting wrist sprains.
The lower parts of the body that tend to suffer injuries from skateboarding are the knees,
the shins,
twisted ankles, sprained ankles and foot stress-fractures.
A small percentage of injuries occur to the head face and neck.
This is why it's a good idea to wear protective gear when you skate.
Always wear :
Helmets should have adjustable chin straps to keep your helmet securely on your head in the event of a fall.
Wear a properly fitting helmet.
Some manufacturers recommend changing helmets sooner, so be aware of the manufacturer's guidelines.
Check your skateboard regularly for any faults or wear.