| Many children have a love for skateboarding. They | | | | head gear. There are specialty shorts and shirts |
| watch some of their favorite professionals do | | | | that are made for skateboarders that include |
| tricks and dangerous moves on television and | | | | padding which will help reduce cuts, scrapes and |
| want to do them also. However, the people on | | | | possibly broken bones in case of a fall. At the |
| television are highly trained and well protected. | | | | very minimum, the child should be wearing |
| Children need to be aware of the risks associated | | | | protective elbow and knee pads at all times. |
| with skateboarding and how to minimize those | | | | When skateboarding, it is inevitable that the |
| risks by being safe. Children should be told before | | | | skateboarder will eventually fall. This may occur as |
| they start skateboarding that this is a fun but | | | | one is learning how to skateboard or when trying |
| dangerous sport and they should always be | | | | tricks and more complicated maneuvers. Learning |
| aware of the dangers when trying to do anything | | | | how to fall properly will help reduce injury. |
| on a skateboard. Additionally, before the child | | | | Lowering the body and rolling is the best way to |
| goes out, children should be sure they have on all | | | | fall. If completely upright, the impact will be harder |
| protective equipment and that they are | | | | and there will be more of a chance of injury. |
| supervised by an adult or they are in contact with | | | | Trying to relax is difficult but a relaxed body is |
| an adult at all times in case of emergency. | | | | less prone to breaks than a rigid one. The |
| The skateboard itself should be considered before | | | | skateboarder should also be aware of others who |
| purchasing. There are different types of boards | | | | are around and should be aware of their |
| for different forms and levels of skate boarder. | | | | environment. A skate board park or back yard is |
| Choosing the proper skateboard and ensuring it is | | | | the safest environment for skateboarders. It is |
| age appropriate is very important. Protective gear | | | | not advisable to allow children to skateboard on |
| is very important when skateboarding. Shoes | | | | the street because passing cars pose an |
| should be closed toe and provide flexibility and a | | | | increased risk. Ensuring children know how to |
| grip that is important. A helmet should also be | | | | protect themselves and that they know all safety |
| used all the time when skateboarding. Head | | | | rules will minimize the injury risks associated with |
| injuries are very common and most severe head | | | | skateboarding. |
| trauma can be eliminated with the use of proper | | | | |