Safety Information

 








In an era of growing rates of childhood overweight and obesity, encouraging kids to get outdoors and stay active year round is a priority. While winter sports like sledding, skiing and ice skating can provide hours of fun and much-needed exercise, they also bring a potential for serious injury if children are not properly prepared and supervised. Many parents who insist their children always wear a helmet while biking or skateboarding in the summer months might not think twice about letting their children enjoy winter sports without the same protection.

“A properly worn helmet could mean the difference between a minor injury and severe head trauma in the event of a fall,” says Walter Chwals, MD , Director of the Level I Pediatric Trauma Center at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. Parents should make sure that children wear the proper safety equipment when skiing or snowboarding, as well as watching their children closely, limiting their outdoor play time, and making sure that they are dressed appropriately for the weather.