His Health, by Dr. Ken Goldberg Skating on Thin Pavement Roller Blades are all the craze. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 73,000 people were injured skating in 1994, about twice as many as in 1993. Your hands, wrists, arms, and elbows take the greatest beating from a typical skating tumble. Altogether, about two-thirds of injuries are to some part of the arm, and half of those are to the wrist. Elbows present another likely spot for touch-down, making elbow pads sensible landing gear.
Knee pads are a sensible way to save skin and prevent more-serious tendon or ligament problems.
Your head, however, deserves the very best. Modern helmets designed for skating or bicycling are very lightweight and provide excellent ventilation. You'll hardly notice that it's there, and after a couple of outings, you'll feel naked without it. Once you're prepared for an accident, devote some energy to avoiding one. If you're just getting into skating, pick a spot that has a level, smooth surface without obstacles for you to run into.