In a bid to prevent child head injuries, the City of Ottawa will make it mandatory on Jan. 1 for any skater under 10 to wear a helmet while on a municipal rink.

The rule stipulates that youngsters must wear certified multi-impact helmets while skating at one of Ottawa's indoor ice surfaces.

Where the edict may find itself on thin ice is with the stipulation that "weaker skaters of any age" must also wear helmets. The city did not say how it will determine who is a weaker skater.

Currently, only people in wheelchairs or strollers are required to wear helmets.

But an Ottawa city report showed boys between 10 and 14 account for the most skating-related hospital visits.

Councillor Maria McRae says the rule could be amended at a later date to include a broader age group.

A report completed for the Ontario Injury Prevention Resource Centre in 2007 showed that in the winter of 2004-05 falls due to ice skating in Ontario were responsible for 5,102 emergency department visits and 238 hospitalizations.

While 47 per cent of injuries treated in emergency involved arms or hands, 21 per cent involved the head or neck. For hospital stay injuries, 56 per cent were arms or hands and 7 per cent involved the head and neck.

With files from The Canadian Press