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Use of protective equipment by in-line skaters: an observational study

¹ Traffic Injury Research Foundation, 171 Nepean Street, Suite 200, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2P0B4
² Highway Safety Research Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

Correspondence to:
Doug Beirness
dougb{at}trafficinjuryresearch.com

Objective—To determine the extent of protective equipment use (that is, helmets, wrist guards, elbow pads, knee pads) in a representative sample of in-line skaters.

Setting—Fifteen municipalities throughout the province of British Columbia.

Method—A province-wide observational survey was conducted in the summer of 1999. Skaters were observed at four types of sites (commuter, recreational, neighbourhood, general community) in 15 municipalities to provide a representative sample of in-line skaters.

Results—The observed use of protective equipment by the 877 in-line skaters was relatively low: wrist guards 25%, helmets 13%, elbow pads 14%, and knee pads 10%.

Conclusion—Despite the availability of relatively inexpensive protective equipment, few in-line skaters take advantage of the opportunity to protect themselves from injury. Policies and programs that serve to increase the use of protective equipment by in-line skaters are needed to help reduce the frequency of skating related injuries.

Keywords: in-line skating; helmet use; protective equipment

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