Ice Skating Injuries

While ice skating is a popular recreational activity for people of all ages, there is still a risk of injury and even serious injury in some cases.

The most common cause of ice skating related injuries is falling. When a recreational ice skater loses his or her balance and falls, it can result in any one of the following injuries:
- bruising
- cuts and scrapes, particularly if the skater comes into contact with the sharp blades of another's skates
- concussion, in the case of a skater hitting his or her head
- sprained wrist or ankle or other joints
- fractured bones
- broken bones

Other facts and statistics on ice skating injuries -
- ice skaters are five times more likely to suffer head or face injuries than inline skaters or roller skaters
- for children ages five to fourteen, in a given year, approximately 10,600 were treated in a hospital emergency room for ice skating related injuries

There are several precautions the recreational ice skater can take in order to prevent or lessen the effects of any of the above injuries. These include:
- wearing a helmet, including one with a face mask as a hockey player would wear
- wearing wrist guards, particularly one with a "non-slip palm" that would prevent slipping on the ice during an attempt to break a fall
- wearing thick gloves
- wearing elbow pads
- ensuring that the ice skate boots fit well, supporting and protecting the ankles
- wearing knee pads
- stretching beforehand to warm up muscles
- being mindful of posture while skating in order to improve balance and prevent falling
- leaving the ice if tired or fatigued
- never skating alone

To file a personal injury lawsuit against an ice skating rink, the rink must have been negligent in some way or committed some intentional act. Examples of negligence include not cleaning the ice properly or permitting overcrowding on the rink.

The above is not legal advice and should not be interpreted as providing legal advice.