Sledding Safety

Written by EMS

The City of Calgary Emergency Medical Services would like to remind everyone most sledding injuries are preventable.

Sledding is a fun and exciting activity that thousands of Calgarians enjoy every winter. It is one of several great outdoor pastimes that make this snowy time of year more enjoyable. While sledding is a lot of fun, it is not without its risks. Injuries can occur from colliding with stationary objects, such as trees and rocks, or with other people on the hill. Unprotected falls can result in injury if you lose control at high speeds. Everyone is at risk – especially children. Educate your family how to stay safe and follow these simple safety tips for a fun day on the toboggan hill.

EQUIPMENT:
• Make sure your sled is in good condition. Don’t use sleds with broken parts, sharp edges, or splits in the material.
• If your sled won’t stop, or if you are out of control, roll off your sled onto the snow. You can always retrieve your sled afterward.
• Currently, there are no helmets designed specifically for sledding, however children should wear a properly fitted helmet designed for high impact collisions, such as hockey, cycling, or climbing helmets.

PLAN AHEAD:
• Dress warmly in layers and anticipate weather changes. Consider bringing extra sets of gloves and toques to exchange for damp ones.
• Be aware of clothing that contains drawstrings, or other loose clothing, including scarves, which may present a choking hazard if they become caught or snagged.

HAZARDS:
• Don’t use hills that are too steep, or too icy– you may lose control of your sled very quickly.
• Don’t use hills containing too many obstacles (trees, rocks, telephone poles, or fences).
• Don’t use hills that end with a road, busy parking lot, or creek at the bottom.
• Never go down a hill head first or backward.
• Avoid sledding at night if the hill is not well lit.
• Consider using sleds that you can easily control. Inner tubes, crazy carpets, and flying saucers cannot be steered!

For more information, check out:
• www.calgary.ca/ems
• www.safekidscanada.ca
• www.plan-itsafe.com