This winter alone, 181 sledging injuries were treated at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Playing outdoors is a safe and fun way to stay active during the pandemic. While guarding against COVID-19 is important, it is just as essential to keep the principles of injury prevention in mind. On the eve of spring break, here are some safety tips from the Children’s Trauma Center injury prevention program.
Winter outdoor activities
- Wear warm, layered clothing, and change wet clothes right away to prevent frostbite
- Remove any drawstring and use a neck warmer rather than a scarf to prevent the risk of strangulation
- Avoid playing near the street or during snow removal
- Be very careful crossing the street. Cars can have difficulty stopping if the road is slippery and visibility is often poor
- Do not throw snowballs at people or cars, especially if the snow is very compact or hardened by frost
- Forts and tunnels should be built under adult supervision – they can collapse and suffocate a child caught in the snow
Outdoor skating
- Wear a helmet with the CSA Approved seal
- To be safe, the ice should be at least 20 cm thick
Skiing, snowboarding
- Always wear a properly fitted helmet
- Ski or snowboard on slopes appropriate to your skill level
- If possible, enroll your children in classes
Toboggan
- Wear a helmet (preferably designed for winter sports)
- Choose hills with gentle slopes
- Make sure there are no obstacles on the course, such as park benches, trees, frozen hay bales or metal fences
- The bottom of the slope should have a clear, flat area large enough for your slide to stop on its own
- Clear the slope as quickly as possible at the end of your slide
- Never slide in the direction of the street
Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning
- Always unblock your car’s exhaust pipe before driving off
- Never allow someone to stay in a moving car while you are removing snow from it
A great day out with the family should never end in a trauma center emergency room.
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