1. Volume 5, Issue 1  June 2012
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Bicycle and In-Line Skating Safety News 
I N L INE S KATING -F ASTEST G ROWING S PORT
Injuries Up 2008, 7,000 people would sustain people at over 2,500 schools to
Dramatically head injuries—by far the most wear bicycle helmets.
potentially disabling and even In 2002, we expanded our
by Mary Beth Luhrsen
fatal of all in-line skating injuries. program to include educational
Last year, the Consumer Product Fortunately, safety education materials and protective gear for
Safety Commission (CPSC) and appropriate protection can another very popular sport—in-
released some alarming news on make a difference. The line skating. Our new Safety on
in-line skating, now the fastest International In-Line Skating Wheels™ program includes safety
growing recreational sport in Association (IISA) recommends gear made by Skating—In Line,
America. They projected 83,000 helmets be certified to the ANSI, “the choice of champions.”
serious injuries in 2008, more ASTM, or Snell bicycle helmet We hope you will play an
than double those of 2007. Even safety standards. Remember to active role in your children’s
more alarming is the fact that think “Safety on Wheels” in 2008.
children under age 15 account “Safety on Wheels” and give
serious consideration to
for 60% of these injuries.
purchasing protective equipment
The point is that in-line A Message to Parents for your entire family. If you have
skating can be quite dangerous. any questions about Ride Safe
Skaters often share the by Mary Beth and Dane Luhrsen
products and services, please call
pavement with cars, trucks, For the past four years, Ride Safe us at 800-555-RIDE.
bicyclists, pedestrians, and pets has been committed to
and encounter loose gravel, promoting safe bicycling and
potholes, puddles, and cracks. bicycle helmets. We started with
Add to that the fact that it is our own four children (ages 2–8),
possible to achieve speeds who didn’t want to wear helmets
exceeding 30 miles per hour, and because their friends didn’t wear
you’ve got “accidents” waiting to them. We thought if we could
happen. offer “cool” looking helmets to a
Most injuries are wrist group of children, we could
fractures, followed by elbows or diminish this negative peer
lower arm fractures. Head pressure. Our strategy worked,
injuries are not far behind. In and the Ride Safe program has
fact, the CPSC projected that in already convinced 300,000