Skateboard Safety
What are the risks?
Skateboarding has come a long way since the middle of the last century. Today, it even has a place in the Olympics. Skateboarding can be a fun and relatively cost effective means of entertainment and physical exercise but it does come with some risks.
Types of injuries
- Head injuries including concussions
- Hand, wrist, shoulder and elbow injuries including fractures
- Ankle and knee injuries including fractures
Good reminders for all boarders
- Obey local laws on where you can and cannot skateboard
- Never skate in the street
- In skate parks, be considerate of other skateboarders, especially those younger than you or less skilled
- Do not use headphones when skateboarding
- Never put more than one person on a skateboard
- Never hitch a ride from a car or bike
How to protect
Check your equipment
Wear protective gear
Learn to fall
- Check your board for loose, broken or cracked parts
- Sharp edges on metal boards
- A top surface that is slippery
- Wheels with nicks or cracks
- If you feel like you’re about to lose control, crouch down so you don’t have far to fall
- Try to land on fleshy parts of your body (for instance on your buttocks)
- Try to roll rather than absorbing the force with your arms
- Try to relax your body rather than going stiff
- Practice falling on a soft surface or grass
Links and Resources
For more information on skateboarding safety and equipment, click here.
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- Published: June 25, 2021
- Page reviewed/updated: May 11, 2023
