Live Smart: Health and Safety Activities for Youth Clubs

Bulletin 907

Roller-Blading Right

YOU WILL TEACH CLUB MEMBERS

To follow safety practices when in-line skating.

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

In-line skates, helmet, kneepads, elbow pads, wrist guards, gloves

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Ask club members: Can anyone name the fastest growing sport in the United States?

Answer: In-line skating is the fastest growing sport in the United States. More skating, however, leads to more skating injuries. Each year, approximately 100,000 people are treated in emergency rooms for injuries received while in-line skating.

Ask club members: How many of you have ever skated on in-line skates? Did you wear safety gear while you were skating? If yes, what gear did you wear?

Ask club members: Why is safety gear important?

Answer: Skaters can reach speeds of 30 miles per hour or more. That is faster than a car can travel in a school zone! Crashes at this speed can cause severe injuries.

WHAT SHOULD YOU KNOW?

Tell club members: Many in-line skating accidents can be prevented by following a few safety tips.

Ask club members: What is the most important piece of safety gear to wear while skating?

Answer: Helmets are the most important piece of protective equipment for skaters. When selecting a helmet, make sure it fits snugly. Always tighten both straps of the helmet securely under the ears and chin.

Ask club members: What other safety equipment should be worn while skating?
Answer: Knee pads, elbow pads, and gloves should be worn to reduce abrasions received during falls. Since most people use their hands to try to catch themselves during a fall, wrist guards should also be worn to protect the wrists from sprains and fractures.

Tell club members: Follow these safety tips when skating.

1. Check your skates before you begin skating. Remove all grass and debris from the wheels. Wheels should not wiggle from side to side. If they do, tighten them. Spin each wheel to make sure it rotates evenly. If you hear grinding, a bearing needs to be cleaned or replaced.
2. Practice, practice, practice before skating in heavily populated areas. Learn the basic stopping, turning, and braking skills.
3. Be prepared for a fall. Falls are going to happen. Practice falling correctly in grass or on mats. To fall correctly, relax, tuck your head, and roll forward on your shoulder.
4. Skate in open areas with few obstacles and avoid skating over water, oil, gravel, debris, etc.
5. Skate with your knees slightly bent to help maintain your balance.
6. Obey all traffic laws, just like motorists and bicyclists must do.
7. Cross cracks in the pavement at an angle to decrease your chances of tripping.
8. Control your speed. Higher speeds increase your chance of serious injury.
9. Be alert. Watch for traffic, potholes, dogs, pedestrians, etc.
10. Gain control by touching your fingertips to your kneepads if you find yourself losing your balance or picking up too much speed.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Choose any of the following activities.

1. Get a volunteer from the group to suit-up in the protective gear. Explain to the group the importance of making sure skates, helmets, pads, guards, and gloves fit correctly.
2. If you have access to mats or a grassy area, have everyone in the group practice the "safe" way of falling.
3. Ask an "in-line skating expert" to speak to club members. This person can tell members how to select the in-line skates and safety equipment that are best for them or how to care for the equipment. "Skating experts" can be found at various sporting goods stores.
4. Organize a group in-line skating trip to a park or other safe skating area. Teach members proper skating, stopping, and falling techniques.

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