Sledding Safety: Preventing Injury in the Snow

After a snowfall, many children spend long hours sledding down hills in the neighborhood. And while speeding through the snow is great fun, it can also be dangerous. Every year, thousands of kids—mostly 14 and younger—end up in the emergency room with serious sledding-related injuries. But with a little preparation, the right equipment, and proper clothing, sledding can be both fun and safe.

Sledding Safety Tips

Keep your kids safe on the sledding slopes with these safety tips:

•	Make sure the hill doesn’t have trees, stumps, fences, shrubs, and other hazards that could get in your child’s way. The hill also shouldn’t be near any streets or sidewalks.
•	The hill should be packed with snow, not ice. Ice can make steering and stopping almost impossible.
•	Your child’s sled should be sturdy and safely constructed. Examine the sled’s handles to make sure they are secure.

The sled should not have sharp edges. Your child should avoid such homemade sleds as garbage can lids, plastic bags, pool floats, or other makeshift sleds.

•	Make sure your child’s sled can be steered easily.
•	Always encourage your child to sit upright on the sled, facing forward. This way, your child can steer the sled with his or her feet or a rope attached to the steering device. Lying flat on a sled increases the risk for head and abdominal injuries.
•	Read the sled’s instructions to learn how many children can ride it safely.
•	Your child should never ride in a sled that is being pulled by a motorized vehicle.
•	Make sure parents or other adults are supervising your child when he or she is sledding.

Keeping Warm in the Cold Weather

It's important to make sure that your kids stay warm while playing in the snow, especially if it is windy outside. Being exposed to the cold weather for long periods can cause fatigue, and your child will have a harder time sensing the cold, increasing the risk for hypothermia and frostbite.

Hypothermia occurs when the body's internal temperature drops below 98.6°F. Symptoms of hypothermia can range from constant shivering to a gradual loss of mental and physical abilities. Severe hypothermia can lead to death. Children are at particular risk for hypothermia because they often don’t dress properly when outside or they ignore the symptoms of hypothermia.

Frostbite occurs when the skin freezes as a result of low temperatures, wet clothes, or even forceful winds. The areas of the body most likely to be affected are your hands, feet, nose, and ears. You can identify frostbite by the hard, pale, and cold quality of the skin that has been exposed to the cold. As the area thaws, the flesh becomes red and painful.

Frostbite and Hypothermia Safety Tips

To protect your children from hypothermia and frostbite, follow these safety precautions:

•	Have your children wear mittens and boots. Keep your children as dry as possible in cold weather. Waterproof clothing works best. Snow can find its way into such clothing as loose mittens and ill-fitting snow boots. Wet clothing pulls heat away from your child’s body.
•	Dress your children in layers. During the winter, windy weather can worsen the already cold temperatures. To keep your children warm, dress your children in layers.
•	Cover your child’s head. Make sure to cover your child's head, face, and neck as much as possible. Inadequate head protection can rob the body of as much as half its heat.
•	Limit play time in the cold. Don't let children overexert themselves in cold weather. Playing hard causes sweating, which is the body’s natural way of maintaining a normal temperature during exercise. In cold weather, perspiration can cool the body too much, making it difficult to warm up again.

Reference: http://www.bensalemrescue.org/safety/sledding_safety.htm BENSALEM RESCUE