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Before kids jump onto their sleds and find the nearest snow-covered hill, below are some important sledding safety tips from KidsHealth.org that you can share with the young ones in your life.
Sled safely this winter.
- Wear sensible winter clothing — hats, gloves or mittens, snow pants, winter jacket, snow boots — but avoid scarves or any clothing that can get caught in a sled and pose a risk of strangulation.
- Wear a helmet to prevent head injuries – multi-sport and bicycle helmets are good options.
- Sleds that can be steered are safer than flat sheets, snow discs and toboggans.
- Select a hill that's not too steep and has a long flat area for kids to glide to a stop.
- Avoid sledding on driveways, hills, or slopes that end in a street, drop off, parking lot, river or pond. And stay away from areas that have trees or fences.
- Sled on snowy surfaces rather than icy surfaces, which could make for a hard landing.
- Don’t overload sleds with too many children – one person at a time is best.
- Make sure young sledders stay in well-lit areas under adult supervision.
Sled safely this winter.
