Skateboarding has resurged and so have its associated hazards and injuries. It is likely that this decrease in injuries was primarily related to decreased skateboard activity and not to improved safety conditions. In addition, an estimated 1900 hospitalizations occurred due to skateboard-related injuries during this period. 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 head 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.