Gear Up Properly for Safe Winter Sports
Topeka, Kan. – infoZine – With the 2006 Winter Olympics coming up in February, kids will be watching some of the world’s best athletes compete on the slopes and the ice. Safe Kids Kansas urges parents to take a moment to remind kids of the importance of proper safety equipment, training and supervision.
Nationwide, more than a quarter million children a year are injured while participating in winter sports. Safe Kids Kansas offers a few simple precautions: kids need to be dressed appropriately, take lessons, be actively supervised and stick to safe terrain. For many winter activities, protective headgear is also recommended.
Roughly 3,000 kids a year suffer serious head injuries (brain injuries) from sledding. “Kids under 12 should wear a helmet while sledding,” says Jan Stegelman, Safe Kids Kansas coordinator, citing a position statement by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. “Don’t go down a hill headfirst – sit up and face forward. Make sure there’s adult supervision and a clear, safe path.” A good sledding hill does not lead to a street, a body of water or a crowded gathering place. In addition, the CPSC reminds parents and kids to inspect sleds regularly for worn, damaged or loose parts that could break or snag at high speed.
“Children under six should not be riding a snowmobile, period, and nobody under 16 should be driving one,” says Stegelman. “All snowmobile drivers and passengers should be wearing helmets designed for high-speed motor sports – a bike helmet isn’t sufficient for a four-wheeled motorcycle that can go up to 90 miles per hour.”
There is no consensus among experts about the need for helmets while ice-skating, but parents should keep in mind that beginners are likely to fall down a lot. Helmets are a must for ice hockey, along with mouth guards, kneepads and elbow, shoulder and shin protection. “Skate only on ice that’s approved for skating by local authorities,” says Stegelman. “Teach kids how to protect themselves if they do fall through the ice: stretch their arms out wide and kick as if swimming, shout for help and try to crawl backward onto solid ice.”
“Kids should wear helmets when they ski,” says Stegelman. “Buy or rent a ski helmet that’s certified by the Snell Memorial Foundation or ASTM International, and have an expert make sure it fits correctly so it won’t come loose at a critical moment.” According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, ski helmets could prevent or reduce the effects of 53 percent of the head injuries suffered by children under 15 while skiing or snowboarding. “Caregivers should wear ski helmets too – remember, your children learn safety habits by watching you,” says Stegelman.
“Basic health and comfort precautions can go a long way in preventing injury,” says Stegelman. “Dress in layers. Wear sunscreen. Stay hydrated. Kids – or caregivers – who become distracted or irritable, or begin to hyperventilate, may be suffering from hypothermia or altitude sickness, or they may be too tired to participate safely in winter sports. They need to go indoors, rest and warm up.”
In 2003, more than 64,000 children ages 5 to 14 were taken to emergency rooms for injuries resulting from winter sports, including nearly 23,000 from snowboarding, 15,000 from sledding, 12,000 from skiing, 11,000 from ice skating and 1,800 from snowmobile accidents.
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