Sledding Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe
It's that great time of year when the kids are out speeding through the snow on sleds and toboggans. To ensure the fun continues, it's important your kids (and you) follow a few safety precautions while they dash through the snow.
- Wear layers of clothing for protection from injuries.
- Make children wear protective helmets.
- Don't sled near driveways, roads, trees, rocks, poles or water.
- Do not sled on or around frozen lakes, streams, or ponds because ice may be unstable.
- Take care on icy hills — you'll go faster than you think.
- Do not sit/slide on plastic sheets or other material that can be pierced by objects on the ground.
- Leave your dog at home.
- Don't overload your toboggan or sled, and always stay seated.
- Wait until the hill is clear before you start your slide.
- Climb up the side of the hill, away from other tobogganers.
- Stop if you're tired. A lot of collisions occur in the afternoon when fatigue sets in.
- Don't toboggan alone. Take a friend with you so you can both check for frost bite and guard against injury.
- Look before you go down the hill.
- Ride your toboggan feet first. If you slide off, you'll be less likely to hit your head.
- Sit in a forward-facing position, steering with your feet or a rope tied to the steering handles of the sled. DO NOT sled headfirst down a slope.
- Keep all equipment in good condition. Broken parts, sharp edges, and cracked or split wood invite injury.