Ice Skating
-Allow children to skate only on approved surfaces. Ice skating should be done at regulated rinks and not on ponds, rivers or other bodies of water that might be only partially frozen. Check for signs posted by local police or recreation departments to find out which areas are approved.
-Advise your child to skate in the same direction as the crowd. Avoid darting across the ice.
-Never skate alone.
-Do not chew gum or hard candy when skating.
-Wear appropriate clothing and safety equipment.
Sledding
-Keep sledders away from motor vehicles and bodies of water.
-Children should be supervised. Keep young children separated from older children. Avoid sledding in overcrowded areas.
-Sledding feet first or sitting up, instead of lying down head-first, may prevent head injuries.
-Sleds should be structurally sound and free of sharp edges and splinters, and the steering mechanism should be well lubricated.
-Sled slopes should be free of obstructions like trees or fences, be covered in snow not ice, not be too steep (slope of less than 30 degrees) and end with a flat runoff.
- Sledding injuries can be very serious, resulting in head trauma, neck trauma, and broken bones. In serious injuries, there often is internal bleeding and abdominal trauma, which is why it’s a good idea to supervise when your kids are sledding.
Snow Skiing and Snowboarding
-Children should be taught to ski or snowboard by a qualified instructor in a program designed for children. Slopes should fit the ability and experience of the skier or snowboarder. Avoid overcrowded slopes.
-Never ski or snowboard alone. Young children should always be supervised by an adult. Older children's need for supervision depends on their maturity and skill. If they are not with an adult, then they should at least be accompanied by a friend.
-The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under age 7 not snowboard.
-Equipment should fit the child. Skiers should wear safety bindings that are adjusted at least every year. Snowboarders should wear gloves with built in wrist guards. Consider wearing a helmet.
Snowmobiles
-The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under age 16 not operate snowmobiles and that children under age 6 never ride on a snowmobile.
- Do not use a snowmobile to pull a sled or skiers.
-Wear safety goggles, boots and a helmet approved for use on motorized vehicles like motorcycles. Travel at a safe speed.
-Never use alcohol or drugs before or during snowmobiling.
-Never snowmobile alone.
-Stay on marked trails, away from roads, water, railroads and pedestrians.
-When crossing a roadway, make sure the way is clear in both directions.
-Do not snowmobile on frozen bodies of water.
~AAP