Should my daughter wear a helmet when roller blading?

[Dan B]

+1 to wrists and knees - I see falls every week that these would help with/did help with. Helmet I'm 50/50 on - sometimes I wear one, sometimes I don't - but note that even in a backwards fall she's more likely to sit down very hard and hurt her coccyx than to hit her head. And if you can get her a couple of lessons it will probably make a huge difference. There's a lot more technique involved in skating than in cycling.

Backward falls are typically a symptom of bad weight distribution, incidentally, and will become much less likely the better at skating she gets.

 

[Mr Pig]

The kid that took half his face off on our drive, I reckon if he'd been wearing a helmet he might've escaped uninjured.

 

[Dan B]

And the guy I know who cracked his shoulder blade getting his feet crossed behind each other, I reckon if he'd been wearing a plaster cast around his shoulder he might've escaped uninjured

 

[thomas]

I'd say yes...don't know about arm protectors and everything else though.

 

[chap]

Genuine question as to what you would do.

My daughter is Nine and is getting quite good on her skates, indoors anyway.

I don't want her venturing onto tarmac without a helmet and I can see it causing rows with my Wife.

Seems to me that as she's learning, she will fall a lot but on the other hand, countless millions of other kids fall constantly without a helmet with no ill effects.

Am I worrying about nothing? what would you do?

Definitely, your daughter is either at or approaching a key developmental stage, thus her skull is a lot lighter than a fully grown adults. Secondly, the types of falls that one encounters whilst skatig are different to those on bikes, which is why the helmets are tested differently - skating accidents usually involve short sharp knocks, whereas cycling ones tend to be more prolonged.

I used to skate a lot, and whilst it was more 'aggressive' (read stunt) skating I did, I would think that the same would apply to a beginning recreational skater such as your daughter.

The best idea to encourage her to wear the helmet, unless girls generally are more mature than boys hence don't have the whole peer pressure thing and macho aspect - is to buy her a skating helmet, these loot a lot more fasionable than cycle helmets - indeed some skate helmet manufacturers are now selling skate styled cycle helmets. If you got a Protec, or Bern helmet then these generally have nice designs (flowers, etc) and will more than do the job. Failing that the cycle helmet will do more good than harm.

In time, as your daughter becomes more skilful, and mature with her skating, she can decide whether to wear a helmet or not - by then she would instinctively know how to fall properly (knees, hands, lunge) and so and would be skating in safer parts (parks like Hyde Park).

 

[Chuffy]

Incidentally, I used to roller-blade (they're gathering dust in my ex's understairs cupboard now) so I do have some experience. Head impacts are about the least likely of any injury while you are skating. As Coruskate says, in a backward fall you are much more likely to injure your lower spine/coccyx but you won't be making her wear a bum-pad will you? The instinct on skates is to put an arm out, hence the likelihood that any injury will be to her wrists or arms (oh, knee pads would also be useful unless you're not worried about grazes and scrapes).

This is already starting to go the same way as any other helmet thread, so I'll make this my last word. She's your kid and no-one is going to pass judgement on you for doing what you feel is right. However, bear in mind that a helmet is not a magic hat which will make her safe but it might make you feel that you are Being Responsible. I can fully understand that, but ask yourself if that is actually a good enough reason?

 

[Dan B]

Secondly, the types of falls that one encounters whilst skatig are different to those on bikes, which is why the helmets are tested differently - skating accidents usually involve short sharp knocks, whereas cycling ones tend to be more prolonged.

This may have once been true, or may be true for very expensive helmets, but these days I think you will find the majority are built to the same weak EN1078 standard as used for bike helmets.

 

[Panter]

Thanks all.

Thanks for putting that point over Chuffy, I do get where you're coming from now.

As it stands at the moment, I think she is in danger of clumping her head (although more probably her face which I don't think a helmet will help much with) as she's only just started getting some speed up but can't yet control it so I think it's quite likely she could end up doing the skating equivalent of a superman, and if her arms don't stop her she'll headbutt the ground.

When she has a little more control, probably in just a week or two, then I'll leave it down to her and if she feels "cooler" then I'll get her a skate helmet.
If at any stage she gets adventerous enough to try leaving the ground on the things, then it'll be a pressure suit, full face lid, spine protector............

 

[Chuffy]

Ok, my final last word...

The very best thing that you can do for her, safety-wise, would be to get her a few lessons. And that would apply to anything, cycling, horse-riding, whatever.

Good luck, it must be scary as hell being a parent and I'm very grateful that I'm not in that situation.

 

[Panter]

Thank you, I don't think there was anything local when I last checked but I'll look again now as things may have changed.

Being a parent isn't so bad really, I just shut my eyes and hope for the best most times. It's a bit like mountain biking really

 

[Wigsie]

Good luck, it must be scary as hell being a parent and I'm very grateful that I'm not in that situation.

I am glad you said that chuffster!

I was just about to rant about twunts asking panter if he makes his daughter wear a helmet while running! Just once I would like to have a conversation with one of you face to face. There is nothing wrong with asking advice on something like this and whe you get a moronic response like some on here it helps no one!

A 9 year old will fall differently to a 15 year old or 20 something so referenceing your own experiences are useless here. Kids hurt themselves, its unavoidable, but a bruised bum from falling is one thing, but a bump on the head is best avoided. My kids wear them, my youngest wears his on his 3 wheel scooter but he does it because its a firemen hat and he thinks it looks cool!

As a parent I am realistic and I don't baby my kids but I have driven my son to A&E with a lovely 3 inch cut on his forehead and watched him get stitched up! not a good day for a parent, if you can avoid it then do it I say.

OK so I still had a rant!

 

[chap]

How to fall = forwards (K,EW,L)

I know I've mentioned it before, but make sure she knows how to fall.

Whilst the author of this piece obviously had a certain target number of words to reach, you might find it some use: http://inlineskating.about.com/od/basicinlineskatingskills/a/basic_three.htm

Basically, Knees, Wrists, then (if necessary)Lunge / Slide. You can see why knee pads and wrist guards are particularly important. I never really used nor felt I needed elbow pads, but they can't hurt (I think some people advocate Knees, Elbows & wrists, then slide but that brings your head needlessly close to the ground.)

http://www.tellmehowto.net/howto/rollerblade_862

If she practices it often enough, then it will become instinctive. It is important to make this an instinct - especially the inclination to fall forward. I still fall this way even though I barely skate.

 

[Wigsie]

I know I've mentioned it before, but make sure she knows how to fall.

Whilst the author of this piece obviously had a certain target number of words to reach, you might find it some use: http://inlineskating.about.com/od/basicinlineskatingskills/a/basic_three.htm

Basically, Knees, Wrists, then (if necessary)Lunge / Slide. You can see why knee pads and wrist guards are particularly important. I never really used nor felt I needed elbow pads, but they can't hurt (I think some people advocate Knees, Elbows & wrists, then slide but that brings your head needlessly close to the ground.)

http://www.tellmehowto.net/howto/rollerblade_862

If she practices it often enough, then it will become instinctive. It is important to make this an instinct - especially the inclination to fall forward. I still fall this way even though I barely skate.

Some good tips for adult learners (and possibly some young adults) although I am not convinced you could teach your 9 year old how to fall? Then have them actually remember it in practice.

I particularly curious about this sentence "Don’t get excited or freeze up mentally. Stay relaxed and keep your cool. That way, you will remember the techniques listed above and you won't damage tense muscles."

Can you teach most 9 year olds this? or just let them get on with it (with a helmet like the article says).

 

[Panter]

Thanks Chap, I'll bear it on mind for when she's older, but there's not a hope in hell of that lot getting through at the moment.

Currently, her falling technique is uncannily similar to mine, i.e a moment of incredulous disbelief that it's happening, a brief twirling sensation and the thought of "hmmm, hope i don't land on a spike" which occurs at about the same time as pummeling into the ground.

I've read a lot about learning to fall with MTB techniques but its not something I'll ever be able to master, personally.

 

[Wigsie]

Currently, her falling technique is uncannily similar to mine, i.e a moment of incredulous disbelief that it's happening, a brief twirling sensation and the thought of "hmmm, hope i don't land on a spike" which occurs at about the same time as pummeling into the ground.

I remember the first time my 9 year old went over the handle bars! the look of sheer terror and panic was a sight to behold! I would imagine my face was very similar to his. Bit of road rash and embarrassment later he is fine and has done it a numerous times since and still lands like a rag doll. It is funny though and i still laugh about it now... albeit a little nervously.

He can't remember to put his dirty plate in the dishwasher or his socks in the wash basket how are you supposed to make him remeber to fall anyway other than in total chaos?