Reading back on this thread, since everyone seems to have let’s say, low key rink guards- I wonder if it would be better to just have a designated first-aid person or a runner at the rink rather than a guard, or simply have people on public ice wear helmets or do a skating test.
I’m a lifeguard, and even though we’re always watching the pool- we have people either voluntarily get life jackets or else do a swim test and prove they can swim one length of the pool (widths for kids). It takes maybe? 5 minutes at most for people who are super slow to do that 25m, and it’s not hard to see them even in a crowded pool so it’s not like we have to kick everyone out to do swim tests. Usually for kids, we’ll make a note they passed it on their pass or their parents account so when they come back to the pool, we know they can swim and don’t have to do it again.
Maybe just demonstrate that you can skate a lap, no matter how “badly”, stop and pick yourself up after a fall and you’re good to skate- if not then parents can sign for their kids agreeing to supervise them and adults can just sign assumption of risk forms if they want to be there that badly even if they can’t skate.