Design a safety Sign.

At SkatetotheMax, skateboarding should be fun and safe for everyone.

Enhancing Skateboarding Safety: Insights from Five Years of Research and Collaboration

Introduction

Over the past five years, our collaboration with the University of Plymouth and the Trauma and Research Network (TARN) has produced valuable insights into skateboarding safety. By collecting data from Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments, we aimed to understand the nature and frequency of skateboarding accidents. This data has been instrumental in shaping our discussions around safety and the critical need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), particularly among skateboarders over the age of 15.

Background

As skateboarding continues to grow in popularity, so too have the accompanying risks. Our research initiative focused on analyzing accident data to identify prevalent injury patterns and the factors contributing to these incidents. Workshops conducted with skateboarders and their caregivers enabled us to foster an open dialogue about safety practices and attitudes toward injury prevention.

Data Collection and Findings

Through our collaboration with local A&E departments, we gathered comprehensive data concerning the types of injuries sustained by skateboarders. Key findings include:

• Injury Trends: A significant proportion of injuries involved fractures and head trauma, particularly among the older demographic (15 years and above).

• Underutilisation of PPE: Despite the clear risks, there was a marked reluctance to use protective gear among skateboarders in this age group.

Workshop Discussions

Our workshops served as platforms for discussing the importance of PPE and its impact on injury prevention. Key themes included:

1. To promote safety among young skateboarders and users of wheeled sports in Plymouth, especially in low-deprivation areas, we propose a series of workshops focused on designing, creating, and installing skate park signage. This signage will emphasise the importance of wearing helmets and protective pads while engaging in their favourite activities.

   Our preliminary workshops have demonstrated promising results. We found that a group of up to 20 children, led by a trained facilitator, can effectively collaborate on the design and creation of impactful safety signs over a six-week period. Our approach involves engaging participants in the creative process, allowing them to express their views on safety and the importance of PPE in a fun and interactive way.

   Furthermore, we are in discussions with the local council to ensure the installation of these signs and to address the associated costs. With several new skate parks set to be built in the area, we aim to integrate our safety signage into these developments, making it a vital part of the new facilities.

   In our initial implementation, we plan to engage four groups from Plymouth and its surrounding areas, each tasked with creating four distinct safety signs. This initiative not only aims to improve safety awareness but also fosters community involvement and empowers young people to take an active role in promoting safe practices in their sports.