Roller skates have come a long way since their appearance in the 18th century. Over the years they’ve evolved a lot, allowing manufacturers to perfect their look and convenience to give us a smoother ride. Although the appearance of inline skates might have taken some of their shine, it seems that roller skates are back to steal the show.
Extremely appealing, colourful, of quality, and most importantly – good for the body and health, roller skates are here to stay. The one thing both adults and children should know is that staying safe while riding skates is paramount. The types of injuries you could avoid are huge, so it’s necessary to make sure you invest in the right skate protective gear.
Types of Injuries You Can Avoid by Wearing Protective Gear
Roller skating is a recreational activity which in some cases may end up in accidents, no matter how careful you are. Although small cuts and bruises are the most common things you can get from a fall, unfortunately, more catastrophic injuries like broken arms, legs and neck could happen too.
But, some of the most catastrophic things that could happen are brain and head injuries which can lead to paralysis, loss of vision, hearing and even speech. Unfortunately, death is not excluded in these cases either, and the main cause for this, and all of the aforementioned injuries, is not wearing the suitable safety gear for skating.
What Safety Equipment Is Required for Skating or Skateboarding?
Whether you ride roller skates, inline skates, skateboard, a scooter or a bike, you need the same protective gear for all of these sports activities. Protecting yourself with the right equipment should be the other priority besides acquiring the ideal pair of roller skates.
This could save you a lot of problems with the law while also saving you from some serious injuries when on the road. Although the law differs in different states for roller and inline skates, still wearing protective gear should be essential for staying safe.
Helmet
The first and most important thing you should wear when riding skates is a helmet. This safety gear for skating is designed to offer utmost protection to your head, keeping it safe and sound even in a case of a fall. But don’t think that any helmet should do the work when it comes to protection. Besides choosing the right fit, you should also choose a model that meets the Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 2063:2008.
This is essential so you could be sure that the chosen one can provide you with the needed protection. Regarding the size, it’s best for you to try a helmet in person, but if ordering online is your thing, you can always measure the size of your head and get the right fit by paying attention to the sizing charts. By any means don’t buy a size bigger (this especially applies for small children) so you could save money for not buying a new helmet next year.
The helmet should sit snuggly and shouldn’t move to give you the needed protection. Otherwise, you risk being injured in case of an accident. Another thing you need to pay attention to is the helmet’s side straps which should form a ‘V’ shape around your ears. A good helmet also has an adjustable buckle to get the needed tightness, and inside pads for a snug fit.
Wrist Guards, Elbow Guards and Knee Pads
Wearing rollerblade protective gear of this kind is as important as wearing a helmet. For instance, wrist guards are designed to support your wrists and reduce the chances of sprains and broken bones in a case of a fall. Knee and elbow pads, on the other hand, are essential for reducing the chances of gravel burns, cuts and scrapes.
When choosing wrist guards, you can choose from slip-on and wrap models. The slip-on type is designed to slip over your hand (quite similar to a fingerless glove) and provide you with the needed support. Wrap guards, on the other hand, are designed to wrap around your hands and wrists secured with straps in order to get a better fit. Both of these types can come in different sizes, so it’s crucial for you to choose the right one.
Just like wrist guards and helmets need to be properly secured, the same can be said about elbow and knee pads. You should choose the proper size, otherwise you’ll deal with elbow and knee pads that keep sliding down because too big or ones that are too tight that could make some serious marks and even cuts on your skin. To find the right pairs, you should take the right measurements, two centimetres above the elbows for elbow pads, and about two to four centimetres above the knees for knee pads.
