Most injuries we see in our offices and emergency departments could easily be prevented with protective equipment. In-line skating is the fastest growing sport in the United States, increasing over 500 percent since 1989. Today, there are more than 19 million in-line skaters of all ages and levels of expertise. In 1995, nearly 100,000 in-line skating injuries required emergency room treatment.
Education is critical to safely undertaking in-line skating.
The AMA recommends skaters begin their careers with a lesson on the basics of how to stop, turn, control speed and fall safely. Equally important to skaters' safety are protective helmets, wrist guards, elbow and knee pads. In-line skating is no different. An estimated 63 million Americans ride bikes. The first body part to fly forward in a collision is usually the head, with nothing but skin and bone to protect the fragile brain from injury.