Patrick from Fairfield decided that Tuesday was a great day for sledding. With fresh snow on the ground and the week off from school, he took his kids Julian and Naia to Sturges Park to slide down on inner tubes, even using a little jump to grab some air. Though he and Julian took a few spills off the makeshift ramp, Patrick said he wasnt too worried about getting hurt.
Something could happen, Patrick said. But if you always thought that way, youd stay indoors all the time. However, accidents do happen. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 160,000 people were treated at hospitals nationwide as a result of sledding or tubing accidents in 2009. And the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reports that 71 percent of all unsupervised sledding outings end in injury.
The key word here is unsupervised. Dr. Michael Lee of Pediatric Healthcare Associates Southport office said the simplest way to prevent injuries to kids is to supervise them, especially younger kids. If you take your kids to the hills, make sure they stay away from trees and other children. There should be a nice, clear pathway, Lee says. Just use common sense.
Lee said hes seen more sledding injuries this year, especially concussions. He suspects that ice storms might be the reason. Soft, powdery snow provides more cushioning for a young head than hard ice.
Here are more tips to make sure your kids are sledding safely:
? Before hitting slopes gentle or steep, remember to look forward. And never sled toward anyone or anything.
? Children should wear multisport or ski helmets to avoid severe injuries. Stationary objects, trees, roots or standing people, pose the biggest risk for the worst sledding accidents those resulting in head injuries.
? Avoid jumps: Sleds and sledders are seldom equipped to safely negotiate big jumps, and landing the wrong way can cause many orthopedic injuries such as clavicle fractures. Lee recommends making sure your kids are skilled enough to handle a jump before letting them try a ramp.
Click here for more safe sledding tips. And while you're out there, follow Patricks lead and hop on for a ride yourself. Childhood is as close as a Flexible Flyer.
Do you have any other safety tips? Share them with your fellow parents in the comments below. And dont forget to check out our Wellness page for more health news.
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