Sledding Safety Tips

Sledding, often called sled riding across western Pennsylvania, is a popular outdoor pastime in the snowy winter months. For many kids and adults, it’s one of the best things about winter.

Though it may seem relatively safe, it can lead to serious injuries. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, nearly 21,000 people were hurt in sledding-related accidents every year from 1997 to 2007 — the most recent statistics available.

Many sled riding mishaps are minor, but brain injuries (including concussions), broken bones and fractures, and spinal injuries can result. To reduce your chance of sledding injuries, follow these easy sled-riding safety tips:

• Always supervise younger children.
• Avoid hills that have a street or body of water near the bottom.
• Avoid any sledding hill that has trees, posts, fences or other obstacles in its path.
• Choose a sled that you can steer instead of discs, inner tubes, and toboggans. Don’t use plastic sheets that can be punctured by objects on the ground.
• Never sled head-first down a hill. You should always be seated and facing forward.
• When climbing back up a hill, be on the lookout for sled riders who may not be able to steer their sleds.
• Children should wear helmets when sledding, especially when riding particularly fast sleds.
• At night, only sled in well-lit areas.
• Never drink alcohol before sledding, as it makes you more susceptible to the cold and leads to unsafe decisions.