The vast proportion of admissions were from head injuries. The use of bicycle or hockey helmets has not been evaluated. Patterns of injury at different ages can be explained by patterns of skateboard use, which, in turn, are developmentally determined. Young children generally use skateboards near their homes. These children have a high center of gravity and limited ability to break a fall.
Injuries are most frequently to the head.
Although these heads injuries have generally not been severe, they frequently require medical attention. Older children more often use their skateboards on streets and highways. They often can break their falls but injure their extremities in so doing. When they collide with a motor vehicle or cannot break a fall at high speed, serious head injury may result. Children younger than 5 years of age should not use skateboards.