posted May 13, 2008
) Becky Campbell, program lead with Safe & Sound addresses local media during a public awareness briefing on the importance of using proper safety equipment when skateboarding, as well as when participating in any type of wheeled sport such as riding bicycles and inline skating. |
“Several factors – from lack of protective equipment to irregular riding surfaces – are involved in skateboarding accidents,” said Becky Campbell, program lead with Safe & Sound at Children’s Hospital. “Skateboarding requires a great deal balance and control and many young and inexperienced skateboarders haven’t developed the necessary balance needed to react quickly in order to prevent an accident.”
Mrs. Campbell stressed the importance of proper safety gear – particularly helmet use – and skating in designated areas during a public awareness briefing on Tuesday at Chattown Skate Park.
“Brain injury is the leading cause of sports-related death in children so wearing a helmet is a must when skateboarding,” said Mrs. Campbell. “The greatest risk of death and permanent disability when participating in wheeled sports, such as skateboarding, is from head trauma.”
According to Safe Kids Worldwide, 18,743 head injuries were treated in emergency rooms due to skateboarding in 2004. The majority of those injuries could have been prevented if a helmet had been worn. Studies have shown that helmets use can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent and severe brain injury by 88 percent.
Mrs. Campbell also addressed the importance of skating in areas set aside especially for skateboarding. “Even though the most common types of injuries are sprains, broken limbs, and bumps and bruises, deaths due to collisions with cars and from falls are also reported,” she said. “Skateboarders should never ride in the street or heavily trafficked areas such as parking lots and sidewalks and should never hitch a ride from a car, bus, truck, or bicycle.”
Safe & Sounds encourages parents of young children, as well as teens and young adults to take the necessary steps to protect themselves while skating and offers the following safety tips:
· Make sure your child wears a helmet and other protective gear every time he or she skateboards.
· Make sure the helmet fits snugly and does not rock back and forth. It should be centered on top of the head and remain strapped and buckled at all times.
· Learn the rules of the road, including all traffic laws.
· Never ride in the street.
· Learning how to fall in case of an accident may help reduce your chances of being seriously injured.
· If you are losing your balance, crouch down on the skateboard so that you will not have so far to fall.
· If you fall, try to roll rather than absorb the force with your arms and try to relax your body.
· Don’t take chances – complicated tricks require careful practice in a specially designated area.
Safe & Sound will host a free Kids Safety Fair on Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the lawn in front of the Blue Plate Diner. In addition to addressing skateboarding safety initiatives, area public safety and health and wellness representatives will provide safety tips on everything from fire safety to the consequences of driving under the influence.
Safe & Sound is a prevention service of T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital at Erlanger and is an affiliate of Safe Kids Worldwide (formerly known as the National SAFE KIDS Campaign), the first and only nonprofit organization dedicated solely to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury – the number one killer of children ages 14 and under.
) North Chattanooga resident, Jared Lewis, demonstrates his riding skills during Tuesday’s public awareness event. Skateboarding is not the only sport that takes advantage of the Chattown Skate Park; skateboarders oftentimes share the course with BMX riders and inline skaters of all ages. |
| Dining Out | Business | Movies | Focus | About Us |
| Church | Living Well | Memories | Outdoors | Real Estate | Student Scene | Travel |