Safety on Sleds
Monika Barańska
2021-12-05
Down the hill we go! Sledding brings immense joy to both children and adults. It's no wonder – for adults, it brings back childhood memories, and it's a fantastic activity with their own kids, while children love when sleds race downhill, unexpectedly bounce, or topple over. However, just a moment of inattention can lead to an accident during this fun. How to ensure the safety of your child, yourself, and others during snowy adventures?
How to Ensure Safety on Sleds?
- Sledding Equipment – it doesn't have to be professional, modern, or expensive. It's important that the sleds are sturdy and in good condition.
- Clothing – a child's clothing should be suited to the type of activity and current weather conditions – warm, waterproof, without dangling cords. It's worth considering a helmet, such as a ski helmet, to protect the child's head from impacts with ice or hard-packed snow.
- Weather – sledding should occur in conditions that ensure good visibility. The hill should be away from roads, with a gentle slope, not icy, and with sledding paths free of protruding stones and branches.
- General Slope Behavior Rules – avoid walking on sledding paths, maintain a safe distance between sledders, sled facing forward with legs elevated.
How to Ensure Safety During a Sleigh Ride?
Similar rules apply during a sleigh ride. It's crucial to remember the basic rule, ignoring which can have tragic consequences – do not attach sleds to cars and avoid organizing sleigh rides on roads! Participants should exercise extreme caution during the ride, and it is prohibited to:
- stand on sleds while moving,
- place feet between the sled runners,
- hold onto the front or back of sleds,
- use a phone,
- throw snowballs at other participants,
- create intentional collisions.
Sledding, whether going down a hill or a sleigh ride, is a source of joy and positive energy, as long as everyone remains sensible.
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