The thrill of sledding is unlike any other for children. The feeling of going down a hill at fast speeds with the cold wind blowing at their face can only happen during a few months throughout the year. Many children and parents don’t know that sleds can reach speeds up to 25 miles per hour, and in a second, a child can lose control of a sled or not react fast enough to avoid danger. Unfortunately, every year, thousands of children end up going to emergency departments for sledding injuries like concussions and broken bones.
A great way to help your child stay safer is to join them at the sledding hill. An adult can ensure children are wearing helmets, pick the best place to sled on the hill, point out dangers children might not see, and stop children from building snow ramps or standing on sleds, which could cause serious injury. Having an adult at the sledding hill lowers the risk of injury, and adults can react quickly if an injury does happen.
Gear is another vital part of sledding safety. Hats, gloves, snow pants, winter jackets, and boots keep children and adults warm and can protect against minor cuts and scrapes that could
happen while sledding. Don’t forget to ensure you have a helmet that fits correctly because the most important thing to protect is the head.
See more tips below to ensure you have everything needed for the next snow day on the sledding hill.
Equipment Check:
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- Sled: Buy a sled that can be steered, not snow tubes or round disks. Check for and fix sleds with broken or missing parts.
- Helmet: Make sure your child has a helmet they can wear. A snow sports helmet works best, but a bicycle helmet is the next best choice if your child doesn’t have one. If your child needs to wear a hat to keep warm, make sure to readjust their helmet.
Environment Check:
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- Hill: Pick the right hill before the snow falls. Look for hills that do not have any trees, fences, posts, or other objects children could run into. Make sure there is plenty of space for the sled to
come safely to a stop at the bottom of the hill, away from roads and water (ponds, rivers, etc.). - Parent Present: If your child is younger than 12 years old, prepare to join them at the sledding hill. Adults see dangers that children might not see and can quickly help if an injury does happen.
- Hill: Pick the right hill before the snow falls. Look for hills that do not have any trees, fences, posts, or other objects children could run into. Make sure there is plenty of space for the sled to
On the Hill:
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- Sled Basics: Show your child how to sit feet-first and steer the sled. Practice on a small hill before moving to larger hills.
- Space: Teach your child how to stay out of the path of other sledders.