Skateboards, Unpowered Or Unspecified
Twenty years of CPSC NEISS emergency-room records for this consumer product category, combined with demographic breakdowns, multi-year injury trends, and matching recall notices.
Toys & Children's Recreation · CPSC Code 1333
Down 15% over 5 years
The verdict
Skateboards, Unpowered Or Unspecified carry a danger score of 43/100 (moderate risk), driven by roughly 110,890 ER-treated injuries a year that are declining by about 15% over the last five years.
- 43/100
- danger score (moderate risk)
- 110,890
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 4.4%
- end in hospital admission
- 15-24
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 1333 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 43/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for skateboards, unpowered or unspecified - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume110,890 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)4.4%
- Fatality rate0.01%
- 5-year trend-15%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Skateboards, Unpowered Or Unspecified (CPSC product code 1333, in the Toys & Children's Recreation category) generate an estimated 110,890 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 2.2M ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 43/100 for this category (moderate risk), combining raw injury volume, demographic reach, severity of outcome, and multi-year trend. The five-year trajectory shows that injury counts are declining by about 15% over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2008 (149,577 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2024 (63,353 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for skateboards, unpowered or unspecified is strain, sprain to the ankle, accounting for approximately 191,483 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by fracture to the wrist (153,647 cases). The 15-24 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 986,970 cases over the NEISS window, and males appear slightly more often than the opposite sex in that cohort. Severity outcomes from the NEISS disposition field show that 4.4% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer, and a small fraction (0.01%) result in fatality.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 10 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how skateboards, unpowered or unspecified fail in real households. Every figure on this page comes from CPSC-published data: NEISS projects national estimates from a probability sample of about 100 U.S. hospital emergency departments, while SaferProducts.gov collects voluntary reports from consumers, manufacturers, and clinicians. The danger score, trend indicators, and demographic breakdowns update automatically when CPSC releases a new yearly NEISS file, which is why this page is dated 2024-12-31. For regulatory context, consult CPSC recall notices and the SaferProducts.gov public database linked below.
Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2024)
Source: CPSC NEISS national estimates CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only
Who Gets Injured?
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 19,699 | 6,872 | |
| 5-14 | 657,461 | 164,817 | |
| 15-24 | 845,054 | 141,433 | |
| 25-34 | 198,780 | 41,169 | |
| 35-44 | 75,539 | 17,528 | |
| 45-54 | 27,403 | 7,154 | |
| 55-64 | 6,761 | 2,530 | |
| 65-74 | 1,664 | 1,659 | |
| 75+ | 622 | 697 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Ankle | Strain, Sprain | |
| Wrist | Fracture | |
| Head | Internal Injury | |
| Lower Arm | Fracture | |
| Wrist | Strain, Sprain | |
| Face | Laceration | |
| Ankle | Fracture | |
| Elbow | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Elbow | Fracture | |
| Head | Concussion | |
| Shoulder | Fracture | |
| Lower Leg | Fracture | |
| Knee | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Knee | Strain, Sprain | |
| Foot | Fracture |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
26YOM PRESENTS WITH RIGHT FOOT PAIN AFTER FALLING LAST NIGHT WHILE SKATEBOARDING, HAS BRUISING AND SWELLING TO RIGHT FOOT DX: ACUTE PAIN OF RIGHT FOOT, CONTUSION OF RIGHT FOOT AND FALL FROM SKATEBOARD
16 YOM FELL OFF A SKATEBOARD INJURED ANKLE DX: SPRAIN
31 YOF C/O FINGER FRACTURE S/P TRIPPED OVER SKATEBOARD AND FELL AT HOME. DX: FINGER FRACTURE
14YOM WITH PMH OF HARDWARE IN LEG PRESENTS TO THE ED AFTER THE PATIENT FELL FROM HIS SKATEBOARD COMPLAINING OF COMPLAINING OF LUMBAR AND RIGHT KNEE PAIN. DX: RIGHT KNEE PAIN, LEG PAIN AND SWELLING
5YOF FELL OFF OF A SKATEBOARD LANDING ONTO RIGHT SHOULDER DX: FRACTURED HUMERUS
^22YOM WITH KNEE PAIN AFTER RIDING A SKATEBOARD AND HITTING A CAR. PT WAS DRINKING ETOH. NOT INTOX ON EXAM BAL UNKNOWN DX: ACUTE PAIN OF RIGHT KNEE
59YOF WITH SHOULDER AND LEG PAIN AFTER TRIPPING OVER GRANDSON'S SKATEBOARD AT HOME DX: PAIN OF RIGHT UPPER EXTREMITY
16YOM WITH TOE PAIN WHILE SKATEBOARDING DX; TOE PAIN
5YOM FELL OFF HIS SKATEBOARD AND LANDED WEIRD, HAS LEFT ELBOW PAIN. DX: SUPRACONDYLAR FRACTURE OF LEFT HUMERUS
16YOM WAS SKATEBOARDING AND LOST BALANCE LANDED ON BENT ANKLE DX: SPRAIN OF LEFT ANKLE
15YOM,SKATEBOARDING HIS LEG GOT CAUGHT HEARD POP,LOWER LEG PAIN,DX:FX TIBIA AN FIBULA
7YOF FELL OFF A SKATEBOARD TWISTING LEFT ANKLE DX: STRAINED ANKLE
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
Broke my wrist skateboarding while wearing wrist guards purchased from Amazon.
This decedent was a high school student. On 04/25/2023, he was skateboarding while holding onto a moving vehicle until he suddenly fell off the skateboard and hit his head on concrete. He was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with extensive head trauma. He later died of his injuries and underwent organ donation. The Manlius Town Police Department were investigating. His cause of death is listed as craniocerebral injuries due to fall from skateboard. His manner of death is listed as an accident.
I purchased a Mongoose Helmet from Walmart (8924 Quil Ceda Blvd, Marysville WA) on June 30th, 2012. Under bright light, I noticed cracks forming at three button locations that bind the helmet to the chin strap. There are five (5) cracks that measure approximately 1cm in length. Please see attached photographs. This helmet was used five times within one month of purchase and was treated delicately! I am appalled by the poor quality of this helmet. However, I am even more concerned about its capacity to be safe and of the integrity of other helmets in circulation. I question how a helmet of such poor quality passed general factory safety control and labelled CPSC with confidence!
Consumer was riding the Onewheel GT at maximum speed, recieved 3 warnings to slow down and did not slow down. The Onewheel GT stopped abruptly and the rider was ejected. He suffered a fractured olecranon and a fractured clavicle resulting in surgery to repair both. The olecranon required one plate and six screws to repair it and the clavicle required 2 plates and 12 screw to repair it. The rider will need 8 weeks post operative off work. The injury happened in Indianapolis, IN.
I purchased two at Christmas one day later it stopped working I sent for a return and the same thing happened ... I have called the company numerous times and without any help they continue to return for new item I told them I wanted a refund I told them this product is defective ... my children have had major injures because of this problem ... I have been complaining for 5 months.
The Razor Ripstick was purchased for my niece as a Christmas Gift and she was injured on it in front of her Grandmother's home on January 2, 2017 as a result of the wheels locking up. She fell face forward and injured her shoulder and received road rash on her face as a result of the accident. The item was returned to Amazon immediately after to prevent further injuries.
My son fell off within a minute and hurt his wrist and head and bruised his shin badly ( he was wearing wrist guards and a helmet)
Grand Daughter riding skateboard when it broke in half. She only had the board for abut a week when it broke> she is only 9 years old
Showing 8 of 10 reports.
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to skateboards, unpowered or unspecified on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are skateboards, unpowered or unspecified?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, skateboards, unpowered or unspecified have a danger score of 43/100 (moderate risk). An estimated 110,890 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from skateboards, unpowered or unspecified?
The most common injury is strain, sprain to the ankle, accounting for approximately 191,483 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from skateboards, unpowered or unspecified increasing or decreasing?
Down 15% over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for skateboards, unpowered or unspecified injuries?
The 15-24 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 986,970 cases recorded over 20 years. Males are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by skateboards, unpowered or unspecified?
Of all ER visits involving skateboards, unpowered or unspecified, approximately 4.4% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (95.6%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with skateboards, unpowered or unspecified?
You can file a consumer incident report at SaferProducts.gov, the official CPSC reporting portal. Reports help the CPSC identify emerging hazards and trigger investigations or recalls. You can also call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772.
Related Products in Toys & Children's Recreation
Safety Guides
What this means for you
Treat the 43/100 score as relative risk between products, not your personal odds of injury.
- See where this category ranks against every other tracked product. Full rankings
- Injuries cluster in the 15-24 age group, take extra care if that describes your household.
- Check for active recalls on this product before you assume it is safe. CPSC recalls
NEISS estimates ER-treated injuries from a national probability sample of hospitals; they do not capture injuries treated elsewhere or not treated at all.
Data: CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the CPSC.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, scored, and verified.
