Roll Safely into Summer
Are your kids attracted to the adrenaline rush of fast-paced, trick-filled skateboarding and skating?
Having wheels under their feet can be a blast for kids! Unfortunately, injuries from roller sports -- skateboarding, inline skating, scooters, and even Heelys (those trendy sneakers with wheels in the heels) -- have increased along with the popularity of these activities. So remind children to strap on the appropriate gear, and teach them how to fall gracefully. Here's how.
It may seem counterintuitive to teach your children how to fall, when the point of most sports is to remain upright. But falls happen all the time, especially when learning a new sport. Each year, more than 297,000 children ages 5 to 14 end up needing medical treatment as a result of roller-sport injuries. So help your kids practice falling techniques -- it may reduce the chances of serious injury. Here are the basics:
- Crouch down if you feel yourself losing your balance, so you won't have as far to fall.
- Don't try to break the fall with your hands -- you may break both wrists. Instead, try to land on the fleshy parts of the body, and then roll.
- Relax your body rather than stiffening up.
