One warm summer night, I decided to take my son and a few of his friends roller skating. He wanted to wear his own inline skates rather than rent a pair from the rink. Though it had been a while since he’d gone roller skating he was soon in the groove, zipping around the rink with his buddies. The DJ had only played a handful of summer hits before one of the boys rolled up and said my son had been badly hurt on the rink. The music stopped and the lights turned up. He was hysterical…immediately I knew this was more than a fall. The staff had to wheel him off the rink, and we headed straight to the emergency room.

Skating combines the joy of speed, balance, and thrills. According to The American Academy of Pediatrics, in its HealthyChildren.org article In-Line Skates Safety, skating is a low impact sport that uses more muscles than running, yet can provide good aerobic exercise. But it’s also one of those activities where a single misstep can lead to a serious injury – for my son that turned out to be a broken ankle and a deflated spirit. Needless to say, the remainder of both of our summers was ruined. 

While the experience was painful, and sidelined him for weeks, we both learned several lessons:

• Fit counts: boots should feel comfortable and support the ankle well (snug straps or buckles)
• Always wear protective gear
• Skate under control and leave plenty of room to stop
• Follow the guidelines provided in the skating venue
• Learn how to fall
  • Crouch to lower your center of gravity
  • Try to land on fleshy parts of the body (buttocks or thighs rather than elbows or head)
  • Roll when you fall

Skating safety matters; with the right gear, gradual practice, and good supervision, kids can skate safely with confidence. Hopefully these tips will prepare you and your family for the next skating adventure – let it be remembered for joy, not for regret.