by Corban Burns

Created on: May 27, 2009   Last Updated: March 11, 2010

For those who have never visited a skate park, it can be described as a madhouse. The noise is unbelievable and so is the amount of skaters and bikers. The increased traffic can make staying safe even more difficult. Believe it or not, there is more that meets the eye when it comes to being safe in a skate park. Despite what onlookers may think of you when they see you wearing protective gear, please remember that it is better to be safe than sorry. Also, if you fall their bodies will not be the ones suffering from broken bones or even a damaged brain. So do not worry about looking cool, but make staying safe and having fun, your main priority.

Of course, all skateboarders, rollerbladers and BMX bikers should be equipped with protective gear. This does not mean a helmet is all that you need. Rather, full protective body gear or "body armor" is necessary and required before admittance to the skate park is granted.

A full pack of "body armor" can be bought at your local Sports Authority or Wal-Mart. Elbow, knee and wrist pads and hand guards, all play a vital role in keeping your body safe and minimizing any damage to it when you fall, especially if you perform risky skateboard or BMX tricks.

Another way to stay safe and out of the emergency room, is to be observant of your surroundings. Keep in mind, you are not the only person who will be skating or riding a bike. So to avoid collisions, please "look before you leap." It is also important that you be sure not to run into people, especially if you are riding a bike. This could prove to be very painful for the unsuspecting victim and could result in a lawsuit and your ejection from the skate park.

In order to improve and maximize your awareness of your surroundings, you should refrain from bringing a MP3 player or iPod with you. It is already noisy at the skate park, so you would naturally have to crank the volume up to a considerably high setting. However, this would impede upon your ability to hear a fellow skater or biker yelling for you to move out of the way. As we all know, the result could be disastrous, if the warning is not heard or heeded.

Last, but not least in importance, is the trash and litter. Due to people's lack of thinking ability, they often throw empty bottles, newspapers, paper wrappers, etc., over the fence of the skate park. This debris could prove to be hazardous to a skater or biker that does not see the trash on the ground. So please for the sake of your health and others, pick up the trash and dispose of it properly before skating.

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