University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and Safe Kids Greater Cleveland Provide Tips to Have an Injury-Free and Fun Winter
Cleveland, OH – Now that snow has covered the ground in Cleveland, children can take out their winter gear and enjoy many outdoor activities with the snow and ice. While these activities are a great way to keep children entertained and active in the cold winter months, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and Safe Kids Greater Cleveland caution that fun activities like sledding, skiing, snowboarding, and skating can also be dangerous. The good news is that most winter sports injuries can be prevented. Caregivers can help keep their children injury free by taking a few simple precautions.
“Winter safety begins with an understanding of how to stay safe and warm in the cold Cleveland winters,” said Mandy Thomas, Safe Kids Greater Cleveland Coordinator at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. “Children should always be wearing the proper clothing, safety gear and sunscreen when they go outside, and parents need to make sure they come inside periodically to warm up and keep hydrated.”
UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and Safe Kids Greater Cleveland offer caregivers these safety tips to keep children safe and warm this winter:
- Dress your child in layers—warm close-fitting clothes, a hat, boots, gloves or mittens (preferably waterproof), and a scarf or facemask.
- Cover your child’s exposed skin with sunscreen for protection from the sunlight reflecting off the snow.
- Encourage your child to drink water before, during and after play in order to stay fully hydrated.
When it comes to winter sports safety, parents should make sure children always have the necessary sports safety equipment, especially helmets. Helmet usage can reduce the risk of impact force to the brain. Therefore, UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and Safe Kids Greater Cleveland recommend children always wear properly fitted helmets when sledding, skiing, snowboarding, riding a snow mobile or playing ice hockey.
“While there are helmets designed specifically for skiing, snowboarding or playing hockey, your child can wear a bicycle helmet for sledding,” said Thomas. “It is very important to have a helmet, but it is just as important to make sure that the helmet fits properly and is well-maintained. A helmet needs to be replaced if it has been hit hard or involved in a crash or impact; it may have a hair line crack that could reduce its effectiveness in protecting your child from head injury.”
UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and Safe Kids Greater Cleveland have teamed up with Bell Sports to make Giro ski/snow helmets available at a discount price (more than 40 percent off retail) for bulk orders. Bulk orders require a minimum order of six helmets; orders will be shipped directly to your school or organization (or to the individual you designate). Interested parties should go to www.injurypreventioncenter.com.
Along with wearing helmets for winter sports, children need ski or snowboard lessons before they head to the slopes. Lessons provide them with the necessary skills to not only reduce their frustration but their risk of injury.