Now that spring has finally sprung, we can enjoy the great outdoors again! Rollerblading is a fun way to enjoy the nice weather, plus it increases your cardiovascular fitness, balance, and coordination. Not to mention it’s a calorie-burner! A 150 pound person can burn approximately 500 calories in one hour of blading!
While rollerblading is a lot of fun, it can be dangerous. So it’s important to keep in mind these safety tips:
- People of all ages need to wear safety gear such as a helmet specially designed for blading or skateboarding, knee and elbow pads, wrist guards and safety gloves. This equipment will lessen the risk of serious injury during falls.
- When you purchase a pair of rollerblades, make sure that they fit snug around your foot. You want them tight enough that they will provide adequate ankle support, but not too tight that they will cut off your circulation. Also, ask the store for safety information about rollerblading. If they are unable to help you, ask where you can find such information.
- If you are a beginner, practice in your own front yard or on a floor mat. Make sure you know how to turn and stop properly. Once you get it down pat, try blading on your driveway or sidewalk. Children especially need to have enough practice in the front yard or on a mat before venturing onto paved sidewalks or bike paths. Children are particularly prone to injury as they tend not to have as much coordination and balance as adults. It is also important that a child always be supervised by an adult when rollerblading.
- Unless you are an experienced rollerblader, you should avoid blading in the streets. Try a bike trail near you, or just blade on sidewalks.
- While rollerblading, be sure to warn pedestrians ahead of you that you will be passing them. Always pass on the left, just like when driving, and say “passing on your left” loud enough for them to hear you.
- Check that your rollerblades are functioning properly. Check that the screws are screwed in tightly and the wheels are secure. The wheels should be rotated often because the front wheels wear faster than the rear wheels. If your wheels get really worn down, you can always have them replaced.
Adapted from: Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit Injury Prevention