Let’s just be real. Wearing a helmet can save your life, but it’s not necessarily the most enjoyable thing to wear. It can be annoying, can limit your vision, or can just make you look a little dorky. Most people don’t want to wear a helmet when they’re roller skating. But, do you have to wear a helmet while roller skating?
Though there are no federal regulations that force people to wear helmets while roller skating, many skate rinks and private townships mandate the use of helmets. This is because they are a highly effective safety device and have saved hundreds of lives through their use. Even if you’re not a fan, you should wear one, even if you don’t have to.
Do You Have To Wear a Helmet When Roller Skating?
The overall answer is that you don’t have to wear it on a legal sense. In many skate rinks, they are not required for use and are sometimes even considered to be “uncool” by avid skaters. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wear one.
Helmets are there for a reason. They are there to protect you from serious head injuries in the event that you fall, get pushed, or end up in a bad accident. While you might not be required to wear them, they definitely are worth wearing.
What Happens If You Don’t Wear A Helmet While Roller Skating?
Assuming that you’re not in a jurisdiction where helmets are mandatory, then you won’t pay any sort of fines. Not many people will actively pull you aside and ask you to wear a helmet unless it’s the policy of the roller rink you go to. So, superficially, nothing will happen.
However, there is something that does happen when you don’t wear a helmet. You actively expose yourself to the risk of serious injury. That makes it a risk that you probably shouldn’t have to take.
How Effective Are Helmets At Preventing Injury?
Most people grossly underestimate how effective helmets are when it comes to skating. Around 90 percent of serious inline skating accidents can be prevented with the use of a helmet, according to Brainline.org.
It’s also worth noting that people also underestimate how many injuries happen as a result of roller skating. Around 11,000 hospitalizations occur every year as a result of inline roller skating, with many more happening from traditional skiing as well. Reducing your risk of having a serious injury, therefore, is just the smart thing to do.
Are There Any Specific Times When Wearing A Helmet Is Particularly Smart?
It’s clear that the general consensus is that wearing a helmet is the smart thing to do regardless of where you decide to go roller skating. However, there are some settings where wearing a helmet is a no-brainer. It’s particularly important to wear one during any of these situations:
- You’re playing in a roller derby. Roller derby is one of the most dangerous types of roller skating sports out there, and is the cause of a very high percentage of injuries relating to skating. Most roller derby teams bar players who refuse to wear helmets from participation because of this fact.
- You are roller skating in the street. Street skating is not the same as indoor skating, especially when it comes to areas where cars make a regular appearance. It only takes one trip or one collision to permanently destroy your life. If cars have the possibility of hitting you while you skate, a helmet should be on your priority list.
- The type of skating you do is risky. Artistic roller skating that involves jumps and twists might look good, but it can also lead to injury. Even the most graceful of skaters can have a jump that lands wrong or have a moment where things just get awkward. A helmet can help prevent some of those head injuries.
- You are trying to skate in a skate park. Roller rinks are designed to be a safe place to skate, especially when you’re young. Skate parks are a lot less safe, especially when you’re dealing with half-pipes, ramps, and other fixtures. Wearing a helmet makes vert skating safer.
- There are local laws requiring you to wear a helmet. It might not be the most enjoyable law, but they’re there for a reason. Not wearing a helmet while you roller skate could cause you to get a ticket or a fine.
What Kind Of Helmet Should You Wear?
Both CPSC-certified bicycle helmets and roller skating helmets are proven to be effective in reducing the risk of injury in skaters. As long as the helmet you wear is snug and is certified as safe for skating use, you should be alright.
How Much Does A Ticket For Not Wearing A Helmet Cost?
The amount it costs to deal with a ticket for not wearing a helmet varies. In most jurisdictions, the ticket will cost $20 to $50 dollars for each infraction. Since it’s not considered to be a vehicular issue, you won’t have to worry about getting points on your driving record. Still, it’s a pain to deal with.
What Kind Of Injuries Can Wearing A Helmet Prevent?
Obviously, wearing a helmet doesn’t prevent all injuries that can occur at a roller rink. However, it’s clear that wearing a helmet can still prevent or lessen major injuries. The most common injuries that helmets help prevent include:
- Concussions
- Contusions
- Fractured skulls
- Cuts to the head
How To Find A Properly Fitting Roller Skating Helmet
If you are going to go out roller skating, having the right protection is a smart idea. A helmet will only be truly useful if it’s properly fitted for the type of activity that you’re doing. If you’re roller skating, your ideal helmet will be:
- CPSC-certified or designed to be used for roller skating. The CPSC makes a point of creating helmets that are made for both skating and biking purposes. They are officially deemed to be safe to use.
- Snug-fitting. A loose helmet is an unsafe one. Your helmet should be snugly-fitting, but comfortable at the same time.
- Capable of sitting evenly on your head without budging. A good helmet will not veer off to one side or another. It’ll stay right on your head, centered, without the need to jiggle things around.
- Equipped with secure buckles. You should be able to adjust your helmet once and then have it be good to go for a long time. You also shouldn’t have to adjust it too much to make it work for you.
How Long Does A Helmet Last?
Much like with roller skates, helmets are not built to last forever—nor should people treat them like they’re permanent fixtures. Every helmet has its own point of expiration, and while most don’t have a distinct expiration date, there are guidelines that tell you when it’s time to get a new one.
Most skating helmets are made to withstand a single accident, so once you’ve hit your head with your helmet on, you will need to replace it. With that said, there are some helmets that come with a label saying they can handle multiple crashes. You should check your helmet’s box to find out when a replacement happens.
Not sure if you should get a new one? A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is that any helmet that shows signs of damage should be replaced. A damaged helmet is never a safe helmet!
How Much Should You Pay For A Helmet?
Price doesn’t actually have much to do with a helmet’s efficacy. As long as you choose a quality helmet, you should be alright. In terms of the actual price you should expect to pay for a helmet, it’s worth noting that you can expect to pay anywhere between $10 to $25 for a cycling helmet.
A single concussion can easily cost thousands of dollars in medical bills, and that’s not even including potential follow up doctor’s visits. Buying a helmet costs far less, and can prevent those bills from happening. No matter how you look at it, it’s a small price to pay for that safety.
Conclusion
Unless you are going to be roller skating in a jurisdiction that has enforced helmet laws, no one is going to make you wear a helmet. So, you technically don’t have to wear one. That being said, just because you don’t have to wear a helmet doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wear one.
Every year, roller bladers get seriously injured in ways that can cause their lives to get upended. Most of these injuries are preventable or capable of being minimized by wearing a helmet. This is especially true when you’re dealing with high-risk skating styles or choosing to roller skate in the streets.
Wearing a helmet can reduce your chances of an emergency room visit and reduce the potential of medical bills. They’re also cheap, so there’s no reason why you should avoid wearing one.
