Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Sledding is a fun activity for kids of all ages. However, safety is of paramount concern, especially when children are involved. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers the following safety tips:
- Keep sledders away from motor vehicles
- Children should be supervised while sledding
- Keep young children separated from older children
- Sledding feet first or sitting up, instead of lying down head-first, may prevent head injuries
- Consider having your child wear a helmet while sledding
- Use steerable sleds, not snow disks or inner tubes
- Sleds should be structurally sound and free of sharp edges and splinters, and the steering mechanism should be well lubricated.
- Sled slopes should be free of obstructions like trees or fences, be covered in snow not ice, not be too steep (slope of less than 30 degrees), and end with a flat runoff.
- Avoid sledding in crowded areas.