Skateboard Injury Data*

The total number of emergency room visits increased during the pandemic and has continued to rise as things have "gone back to normal." However, the data is murky because the National Safety Council began including scooter and hoverboard injuries into the skateboard category in 2019.

The inclusion of scooters and hoverboards increased the percent of hospitalizations/deaths from 4% to 10%. Why might this be? Does this mean scooters are gnarlier than us? Maybe, those handle bars make scooters more likely cause serious injury?

The portion of Emergency Room visits by women due to skateboard injuries increased from 17% in 2016 to 34% in 2024.

This is likely due to an increase in girls and women participating in skateboarding. However, the number of injuries has slowed and even begun to tapper off. This may mean that more experience means less injuries, but it is more likely to may mean women's participation in skateboarding has stalled.

The portion of Emergency Room visits by young skaters fell from 86% in 2013 to 49% percent in 2024. Adult skaters percent of injuries grew from 12% to 45%.

While this could mean adults are getting worse at skateboarding or younger skaters are wearing more safety gear, it is more likely that the change in injuries is related to skateboarding community aging.