Winter weather doesn't have to put a damper on your child's physical activity. The chilly season provides plenty of opportunities for outdoor exercise that kids find fun - including sledding. But even though it's great exercise, sledding does pose some risk of injury, so take some time to learn about ways to sled safely.
According to medical professionals, sledding can be more dangerous than skiing or snowboarding. These other winter sports are usually performed in groomed areas where there's wide, open terrain and monitoring by trained safety officers. But on sledding hills there may be trees, rocks, sticks, and other obstacles that could easily throw a child off balance, and trained medical personnel - let alone adult supervision - is usually nonexistent. And think about the nature of the sled - whether it's a sled with runners, toboggan, inner tube, cardboard box, or plastic disc, these items lack two basic safety features - the ability to steer and a restraint system. Finally, kids on sleds may be at increased risk of injury for a variety of reasons. They may lack the muscle strength or reflexes needed to avoid obstacles, judge distances, or slow down, and the presence of older and bigger kids on the sledding hill may make it more dangerous for younger sledders.
Head injuries are common in sledding accidents, especially among younger kids. Children under age 6 who were injured while sledding had three times the number of head injuries, compared to teenagers. Children can also experience arm, hand, leg, and foot injuries while trying to stop or if they're thrown from the sled. Also, if the sledding hill borders a road or parking area, children can be struck by moving vehicles or injured when they run into parked cars. In addition, poor lighting, ice, and homemade sledding equipment are all factors that could increase the risk of sledding injuries in children.
What This Means to You: Now that you know about the risks of sledding how can you ensure your child gets some exercise and has fun while sledding safely? Try these tips from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:
- Always supervise your child while sledding - adult supervision may help avoid overcrowding and collisions.
- Encourage a child younger than 12 to wear a fitted helmet (like those used for skiing and snowboarding).
- Have your child to wear gloves, hats, boots, and warm clothing to protect against frostbite.
- Check to make sure there are no obstacles in the sledding path, like trees, rocks, or sticks. Sledding should only be done in open areas.
- Make sure the bottom of the sled hill doesn't adjoin a road, parking lot, or frozen water.
- Avoid evening sledding, or only sled in areas where there's adequate lighting, so that collisions can be avoided.
- Buy your child a sled with a steering mechanism.
- Make sure your child always sits facing forward - it's the safest sledding position.
Source: Christopher Wagner, RN, CFRN, EMT-P; Air Medical Journal, January-February 2005
Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: March 2005
