Focus on Safety for Young Skateboarders

Skateboarding has really taken off in the Chattanooga area. Many say the Chatt skate park has given kids a place to go. Although it's safer than the streets medical experts want kids and parents to keep safety in mind as trauma season approaches.

Researchers say trauma season for kids is approaching. Experts say it's the summer months where kids are out of school, participating in more extreme activites without the right supervision. So Safe and Sound Organizers from Children's Hospital at Urlanger Medical Center hit the skate park to push safety on wheels.

" Without it, you know, it only takes a heartbeat to injure a career in skating or just having fun skating," said Skyye Reed, who is a skateboarder and takes his 3 children to the skate park.

" Skateboarding has become real popular in Chattanooga with the Chatt Skate Park. We're really grateful to have this facility . It's a safe enviornment for kids to come and skate but we want to talk about the protective gear kids need to have on to go skating, said Becky Campbell, program leader of Safe and Sound.

Skateboarders and other wheeled sport athletes should wear knee, wrist and elbow pads. But experts say helmets are a necessity. Studies found the most skateboadring deaths for children are results of traumatic brain injuries.

" It makes you feel more comfortable. It makes me feel more comfortable to have a helmet on and I'm gonna do a wilder trick or I'm gonna do something bigger without thinking of the consequences," said Reed.

" Kids they do not believe helmets are cool. But it's much cooler to wear a helmet and be alive then it is for your parents to be planning your funeral. You wouldn't be around for Christmas or birthdays or anything like that anymore. It's over, " said Campbell.

Safe and Sound hopes these informative sessions will help parents enforce helmet rules with their kids. Many like Skyye Reed say that's a must for his 3 kids. He also says just having the skate park helps him keep an eye on his young skaters.

" Time spent with them. I know where they're at and what they're doing."

There will also be a safety event this weekend with demonstrations and how to fall safely on wheeled sports. That's for parents and kids starting Saturday at 11 am across from Ross's Landing.