How common are skateboarding injuries?

How common are skateboarding injuries?

Pat Hines (Traffic Safety Educator & Executive Director, SafeMoves) gives expert video advice on: How do most skateboarding injuries occur?; Is there a correct way to fall from a skateboard or scooter? and more...

Skateboarding is really popular, especially among young boys between the ages of 11 and 14. Skateboarding is happening all around this country. The media has made it really popular, and boys emulate what they see as a really cool sport. And skateboarding is a great sport. But skateboarding is also a form of recreation. Skateboarding is also a form of transportation. And national data is showing that there's been an increase in skateboard injuries only because the popularity of skateboarding has increased. Here in Los Angeles county we're seeing an increase in skateboarding injuries. We're also finding out that boys aren't wearing helmets when they're skateboarding. So we're seeing an increase in helmet injuries from skateboarding. Also abrasions are very common skateboarding injuries from crashes. So it's really important that as a parent if you're going to buy a skateboard, your child has to be just as prepared to ride a skateboard as they are when they ride a bicycle.