*Every year, thousands of youths and adults are injured sledding down hills in city parks, streets and

       resort areas.

     *Hospital emergency rooms treat more than 55,000 injuries related to sleds, toboggans, and inflated

       plastic tubes and disks used in sledding each year.

     *Half of all emergency visits are for injuries to arms and legs; 17 percent, spine; 15 percent, head;

       and 11 percent facial injuries.

    Guidelines        

     *Sled only in designated areas free of fixed objects such as trees, posts and fences.

     *Children in these areas must be supervised by parents or adults.

     *All participants must sit in a forward-facing position, steering with their feet or a rope tied to the

       steering handles of the sled. No one should sled head-first down a slope.

     *Do not sled on slopes that end in a street, drop off, parking lot, river or pond.

     *Children under 12 years old should sled wearing a helmet.  

     *Wear layers of clothing for protection from injuries.

     *Do not sit/slide on plastic sheets or other materials that can be pierced by objects on the ground.

     *Use a sled with runners and a steering mechanism, which is safer than toboggans or snow disks.

     *Sled in well-lighted areas when choosing evening activities.

     Sledding

     Sled riding is a great way to have fun in the winter, but play it safe.  Always remeber these important safety tips.

     *Wear a helmet.

     *Wear warm clothing – including heavy gloves and boots.

     *Know how to stop your sled or make a sharp turn by dragging your feet.

     *If your sled won’t stop or if you are out of control, roll off your sled and onto the ground. Don’t worry

       about your sled after you roll off. You can get it back after it stops sliding.

     *Make sure your sled is in good condition and isn’t broken. And always tell an adult if you have a

       crash.

     *Only use the sled your parents or guardians gave you. Never use an inner tube, saucer or disk. You

       can get hurt because you can’t steer them.

     *Only sled ride when an adult is present.

     *Never sled ride in unsafe areas like the street, driveways, rocky hills or near a cliff.

     *Never ride into a snow bank – the snow may hide a tree stump or rocks.

     *Never sled ride when it is icy. Ice makes the sled go too fast. Plus, you can’t steer or stop a sled

       when you’re on ice.

     *Never sled ride in the dark.

     *Never ride a sled that is being pulled by a car, truck or ATV.