Some Tips for Sledding Safety

"When kids sled, many people don't think about the risks for head injury," says neurologist and NeuroVista editor Janet Jankowiak, MD. "A young child's coordination and judgment aren't fully developed and it may be difficult for them to avoid hitting obstacles."

During the period from 1991 through 1998, there were 326,806 injuries related to sledding treated in hospital emergency rooms across the country, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggests the use of helmets for children under the age of twelve to help reduce their risk of head injury.

Some tips for safety:

• Sled only in safe areas such as parks where there are no trees.
• Do not sled on public streets.
• Stop kids from sledding on slopes that end in a street, parking lot, river or lake.
• Sit in a forward-facing position. Do not sled headfirst.
• Sled in well-lit areas.
• Allow children to sled only when supervised by a parent or other adult.
• Young children should wear a fitted helmet while sledding.
• The sled should have runners and a steering mechanism, which is safer than toboggans or snow disks.
• Sledding in the evening should only be done in well-lighted areas.
• Plastic sheets or other materials that can be pierced by objects on the ground should not be used for sledding.
• Sledders should wear layers of clothing for protection from injuries and cold.