1. Volume 5, Issue 1June 2008
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Bicycle and In-Line Skating Safety News. 
In-Line Skating Fastest Growing Sport
injuries are not far behind. In diminish this negative peer
Injuries Up fact, the CPSC projected that in pressure. Our strategy worked,
Dramatically 2008, 7,000 people would sustain and the Ride Safe program has
by Mary Beth Luhrsen
head injuries—by far the most already convinced 300,000
potentially disabling and even people at over 2,500 schools to
Last year, the Consumer Product fatal of all in-line skating injuries. wear bicycle helmets.
Safety Commission (CPSC)
Fortunately, safety In 2002, we expanded
released some alarming news on
education and appropriate our program to include
in-line skating, now the fastest
protection can make a educational materials and
growing recreational sport in
difference. The International In- protective gear for another very
America. They projected 83,000
Line Skating Association (IISA) popular sport—in-line skating.
serious injuries in 2008, more
recommends helmets be certified Our new Safety on Wheels™
than double those of 2007. Even
to the ANSI, ASTM, or Snell program includes safety gear
more alarming is the fact that
bicycle helmet safety standards. made by Skating—In Line, “the
children under age 15 account
Remember to think “Safety on choice of champions.”
for 60% of these injuries.
Wheels” in 2008. We hope you will play an
The point is that in-line
active role in your children’s
skating can be quite dangerous.
“Safety on Wheels” and give
Skaters often share the
A Message to Parents serious consideration to
pavement with cars, trucks,
by Mary Beth and Dane Luhrsen purchasing protective equipment
bicyclists, pedestrians, and pets
for your entire family. If you have
and encounter loose gravel, For the past four years, Ride Safe
any questions about Ride Safe
potholes, puddles, and cracks. has been committed to
products and services, please call
Add to that the fact that it is promoting safe bicycling and
us at 800-555-RIDE.
possible to achieve speeds bicycle helmets. We started with
exceeding 30 miles per hour, and our own four children (ages 2–8),
you’ve got “accidents” waiting to who didn’t want to wear helmets
happen. because their friends didn’t wear
Most injuries are wrist them. We thought if we could
fractures, followed by elbows or offer “cool” looking helmets to a
lower arm fractures. Head group of children, we could