Skating & Scooter Safety
Provided By Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

In-line skating, skateboarding and scootering are great exercise for children -- and a lot of fun. However, as with any sport, there are ways for a child to get hurt. To help prevent injuries, have your child take lessons before playing on his own. Children need to know how to stop, slow down and avoid collisions. The International In-Line Skating Association offers the following helpful guidelines:

• Before skateboarding, skating or riding a scooter, parents should check equipment thoroughly for hazards such as loose, broken or cracked parts, slippery top surfaces and wheels with nicks and cracks.
• Always wear appropriate safety gear including a helmet, wrist guards, and elbow and knee pads. If wristguards interfere with your child’s ability to safely steer the scooter, he may want to leave one or both wristguards off.
• Be sure protective gear fits properly and does not interfere with your child’s movement, vision or hearing.
• Never ride in the street.
• Ride on smooth, paved surfaces free of traffic.
• Avoid streets or surfaces with water, sand, gravel or dirt.
• Do not skateboard, skate or ride a scooter at night.
• Limit skateboard, skate or scooter use to one person at a time.
• Never hitch a ride from a car, bus, truck, bicycle, etc.
• If a move seems risky, do not try it.
• Do complicated moves only in designated areas.
• Children ages 8 and younger should not use bikes, skateboards, skates or scooters without close adult supervision.
• Use caution when skateboarding, skating or riding a scooter downhill. If the hill is steep, step off and walk to the bottom of the hill.
• Use all of the protective equipment and pads appropriate for the activity.
  

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