Photo Credit: © Can Stock Photo Inc. / lzf
Skateboarding, rollerblading, and BMX biking are hazardous sports. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 26,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms every year from action sports-related injuries. Many of these injuries are due to the risky nature of the sport and are not easily preventable, but some precautions can be taken. By paying attention to a few safety and maintenance points, park staff members can help minimize the risk of injury to skatepark users.
Maintenance
- Skateboard and rollerblade wheels stop easily, and when that happens, the rider is thrown, sometimes landing on his or her face. Cracked, crumbling, or pitted concrete should be repaired as soon as it is noticed to minimize the risk of falls.
- Litter and small objects, like loose change, gravel, or mulch, also stop wheels. Regular sweeping makes skateparks safer.