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Play Safe: Skates
Gone are the days where a child could simply skate off and the only thing parents worried about was whether he would return home, in tears, with a skinned knee or two.
Parents today have been made wiser by stories of other types of injuries occurring while skating. With the advent of faster, less stable in-line skates, the injuries have become more severe. Even with traditional "quad" skates and skateboards, parents are now purchasing this common-sense gear for their kids in such numbers that more wear it than not. Therefore, when a skater goes out today, make sure he is protected with the following:
- A helmet prevents brain injuries, which can be tragically irreversible. It also protects the scalp, which tends to bleed profusely, from gashes.
- Wrist guards have helped prevent fractures as kids naturally try to break their falls by putting their hands in front of them. They also prevent cuts and scrapes.
- Gloves protect hands from scrapes, cuts and pavement burns that occur when the hands are put out to break a fall.
- Elbow pads were unheard of when most parents were kids, but are now part of the safety gear to prevent nasty scrapes on the pavement, or even outright fractures, which can be among the most painful one can get.
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- Knee pads are important to protect from bruises, cuts, scrapes, pavement burns and bumps that are inevitable during skating.
Another thing our parents never taught us was how to fall. We just did it and most of the time things turned out okay. However, perhaps if we had gotten these simple tips, a lot of childhood scars could have been avoided.
- When falling, try to remember to land on the fleshiest parts of your body…such as your backside.
- Falls are scary, but you will hurt a lot less afterwards if you can somehow remember to go limp and relax.
- Do not stick your arms and hands straight out in front of you. Try to roll out of a fall.
- If you feel as if you are going to lose your balance, crouch down so that the trip to the ground will not be as far.
Of course, traffic rules are twice as important once a child has wheels of any kind. Not only is he responsible for obeying all traffic rules, but he also has to stay even farther away from traffic, in case he falls unexpectedly. It is better to fall on the sidewalk than to lose control and land in front of an unsuspecting motorist.
Another issue that is being raised with the advent of chrome scooters is the mix of pedestrians and riders. Your child should know that when it becomes crowded, it is time to get off the scooter or skateboard, as a pedestrian can leap out at any time, and then you, the parent will be responsible for the damages. In addition, some children like to "buzz" (purposely get close to) pedestrians to startle them. This has resulted in many dangerous collisions for which the parents have had to make restitution.
A child should also be mindful of his own skill level. It's difficult for some beginners to admit that they are not ready to take on "Heart Attack Hill" (of which every neighborhood seems to have at least one), especially if all their peers have been doing so for a long time. But your child needs to know that the higher the "trick" level, the worse the scrape or fracture. He may still attempt it too early. Kids are daredevils by nature, but at least afterwards your warning will really stick.
Finally, any equipment carries with it the possibility of loose parts. Make sure you and your child regularly check for secure fittings.
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