According to the most recently available statistics compiled by the CPSC, inline skating is actually safer than lots of other sports, as long as a child receives proper instruction and wears all the recommended safety gear:
Types/Frequency/Location Of Injuries
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102,911 people required emergency room treatment for inline skating injuries in 1996
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The number of children ages 5 to 14 treated in emergency rooms due to inline skating related injuries was 29% lower than baseball related injuries reported for the same age group in 1995
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The injury rate (injuries/skater) for inline skating was 0.356% (3.5 injuries per thousand skaters) in 1996, a slight decrease from 1995.
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The wrist (24.2% of total) and lower arm (13.5% of total) were the areas of the body most frequently injured
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Fractures (40.8% of the total) and strains /sprains (21.5% of total) were the most frequent type of injuries
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51% of the injuries were considered major/49% minor; most (71%) of wrist injuries were major; of the elbow, head and knee injuries, 48%, 38% and 34% were considered major, respectively.
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The injury breakdown according to ability level was Novice (10%), Beginner (34%), Intermediate (37%) and Expert (18%)
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Deaths are rare. Of the 36 fatalities since 1992, the CPSC reports that 31 were the result of a collision with a motor vehicle.
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The most common locations for a fall were sidewalk or driveway (26%), street (22%), park or bike path (19%)
Most common causes
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Spontaneous loss of balance (41%)
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Striking a stationary hazard, usually a defect or debris in the road (40%)
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Striking a moving object, almost always another skater (11%)
Special risk factors
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Hazardous road condition (53% cited, 63% as key cause)
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Skating out of control (25%/67%)
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Poor visibility (twilight or darkness)(17%/6%).
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Fatigue (11%/37%).
Training & Safety Gear
The statistics prove that lessons and the use of safety gear make a huge difference!
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Fully half of those injured had taken no lessons; 37% had taken five or fewer lessons; only 11% of the injuries were those who had taken more than 6 lessons.
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Of those injured, nearly half (46%) were wearing no safety gear at the time of injury!
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Skaters wearing wrist guards, elbow and kneepads and helmet accounted for only a very small percentage (7%) of the injuries!
