15 Crucial Tips to Prevent a Sledding Accident

Sledding Safety

Remember what it was like to wake up on a snowy morning and find out school was canceled? Snow day! Snow days consisted of playing in the snow, drinking hot chocolate, and sledding. As a kid, sledding is awesome. It’s still pretty awesome as an adult too! You felt like you were flying as you zoomed down the hill on your sled with the cold wind in your face. When you finally reached the bottom, you turned around and trekked back up, ready to do it again.

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As a child, you didn’t think about the dangers of sledding. As adults, we see stories in the news about children who are injured or even killed in sledding accidents. While you don’t want to ruin the fun, part of you can’t help but worry when you take your own children sledding.

Sledding Injuries

You have every right to worry about your child’s safety. A study published in Pediatrics found that sledding injuries are real. Sledding safety is a major concern. Each year from 1997 to 2007, emergency rooms treated over 20,000 children injured in sledding accidents. You can take precautions to avoid sledding injuries. Check out the 15 safety tips below to prevent a sledding accident.

Sledding Safety Tips

1. Bundle up

Sledding safety begins before you even go outside. Time to break out your best winter gear! The warmer you are, the longer you’ll be able to stay outside in the cold. Wearing layers of warm clothing will protect against frostbite. Thick winter clothing will also serve as padding in case of a collision.

It’s important to wear snow boots, gloves, a hat, and winter coat. If you wear a scarf, make sure it’s not too long. A dangling scarf could get caught in the sled and cause strangulation or a neck injury.

Wear waterproof clothing when possible. Some clothing like knit gloves may easily become damp from the wet snow. Be sure to change any wet clothing immediately to help you stay warm.

2. Wear a helmet

Ok, so kids may not be happy about this. But a study found that the average speed at which sledders go downhill is 19 miles per hour. You could get injured if you crash into something going 19 mph. Protective gear reduces the risk of serious injury. It’s better to wear a helmet for a few hours than suffer from a traumatic brain injury for the rest of your life. Wear a skiing or snowboarding helmet if you own one. If not, a bicycle helmet is better than nothing.

3. Check for obstacles

One of the best ways to prevent a sledding accident is to scan the area for objects like trees, rocks, and poles. If you see any obstacles or hazards, avoid sledding in that area. Some objects like tree stumps or rocks may be covered in snow, making it even more dangerous. You should never sled towards a snow bank as it could be a hidden hazard. You don’t want to sled into what looks like a fluffy pile of snow only to realize a large rock buried underneath. Ouch!

4. Make sure the landing area is safe

You need to give yourself plenty of room to stop. Choose a hill with a large, flat, and clear landing area. Don’t sled on a hill that ends near a road, playground, pond, or fence.

Sledding on a hill that ends near a street or parking lot is dangerous. You risk getting hit by a car if your sled slides into the street. Collisions with cars can result in severe injuries or even death. Snow and ice reduce visibility and make roads slicker. Drivers will not be able to see you clearly or stop quickly. You may think a hill is safe if it ends near a road that doesn’t have much traffic, but it isn’t worth the risk.

You also should never sled near a pond or other body of water. Even if the pond is frozen, you don’t know how thick the ice is. You risk hypothermia or drowning if you land in the water.

5. Avoid steep and/or icy hills

You’ll go faster on a steep or icy hill, but a higher speed means less control. You won’t be able to stop in time if you see a hazard. Also, hills covered in ice make for a hard landing if you fall.

6. Choose a sled that you can steer

Sleds with steering and/or braking mechanisms are safer since they give you more control. Snow disks, tubes, and saucers may go faster, but you won’t be able to stop as easily. This makes these types of sleds more dangerous. In fact, snow tubes cause more traumatic brain injuries than any other type of sled. The fast speed combined with the lack of control is a recipe for disaster.

7. Use an actual sled

So what happens if you want to go sledding but you don’t own a sled? Whatever you do, do not sled on an object like a lunch tray, plastic sheet, or inner tube made for swimming. These items are harder to control because they are not designed for sledding. They could be pierced by sharp objects on the ground since they are made of thinner and softer material. Buy an appropriate sled before the snowstorm hits or borrow one from a friend.

8. Observe the sled’s passenger limit

Don’t put more than one person on a sled designed for a single rider. Sleds have a passenger limit for a reason. You put yourself and others at a greater risk for injury if you fail to follow the capacity limit. For best sledding safety, kids under the age of five should always ride with an adult.

9. Sled with your feet first

Sledding head first puts you at a greater risk for a head or brain injury. If you hit an object sitting head first, your head would get the brunt of the impact. It’s tempting to make sledding more exciting by going head first or sitting backward. Sledding in these positions is dangerous.

You’ll have more control if you sit facing forward with your feet first. This position allows you to scan for hazards as you’re going downhill. You’ll also be able to stop and steer more easily.

10. No tricks

It’s natural for kids and teens to want to do tricks on sleds. Children may see professional skiers or snowboarders jumping off ramps. Sleds were not made for this. Tricks on sleds can be hazardous. You could get seriously injured if you land the wrong way or fall off.

11. Supervise

Parents should always supervise children while sledding. Sledders should also use the buddy system. If someone gets hurt, an adult needs to be there to get help. Don’t let your kids sled in an unsafe or crowded area. You should also avoid hills packed with aggressive sledders. In addition, unsupervised kids and teens may be enticed to try risky stunts or tricks. Adult supervision helps everyone to stay safer.

12. Sled during the daytime

Visibility is better during the day. You’ll be able to see hazards and obstacles more clearly. Others will also be able to see you better. If you must sled in the evening or at night, do so in a well-lit area.

13. Never ride a sled that is being pulled by a vehicle

From 1997 to 2007, almost 6,000 children were injured on sleds pulled by a vehicle. Riding a sled that is being pulled by a car, ATV or snowmobile is dangerous. The sled will have no control. The driver of the vehicle may not be aware of a problem since they are watching the road ahead of them.

14. Don’t walk up the hill in the path of sledders

You don’t want someone to crash into you. Move out of the way as soon as you reach the bottom of the hill. Walk back up the side of the hill instead of the middle, as the side will be less crowded. Keep an eye out as you walk and look up to see if anyone is sledding towards you. Sledding safety continues even when you aren’t the one sledding.

15. Roll off of a sled that’s about to crash

Sometimes it’s hard to prevent a sledding crash. If you are about to collide with an object or sled into an unsafe area, roll off of the sled. You can always buy a new sled if it gets damaged. Your personal safety is more important than a sled!

Sledding Accident Lawsuits

Sledding safety is a big concern for some communities. Some towns have banned sledding out of fear of liability. One New Jersey town put up “No Sleigh Riding” signs on a popular hill after settling a sledding injury lawsuit for $25,000. This isn’t the only sledding accident lawsuit that led to a ban. Another New Jersey town settled a lawsuit for $150,000 after a boy broke his leg while sledding. The town’s insurance required the town to place signs prohibiting sleigh riding.

Similar lawsuits and sledding bans have been seen in other states as well. A sledding safety lawsuit in Pennsylvania settled for an undisclosed amount after a girl was killed. Her sled collided with a truck in the roadway at the bottom of the hill. The lawsuit led the landowners to put up “no trespassing” signs on the hill.

Sledding Injury Lawyers in Philadelphia and New Jersey

It is important for sledders and property owners to do everything possible to prevent a sledding accident. But, sledding accidents do happen. Determining liability in a sledding accident can be complex. If you’re injured in a sledding accident, a Philadelphia personal injury attorney at Kane & Silverman can help. Our legal team will review your claim for free. Do not hesitate to call or text us at 215-232-1000. Or, fill out our contact form online to schedule your free consultation.