By Anissa Aldana, LPHS Hi Times writer
With the recent snow days, many kids probably went sledding. A day full of sledding can start off as a day of fun and laughter on a hill, but it can just as quickly end with tragic results. Every winter, children, teens and even adults are involved in tragic sledding accidents which can sometimes end in death.
According to the National Safety Council, approximately 33,000 sledding injuries are treated in emergency rooms every year. According to the Wilderness and Environmental Medicine Journal, sledders are more likely to be involved in accidents that skiers and snowboarders.
This winter, stay smart while sledding and encourage family and friends to do the same. Follow these guidelines to stay safe and prevent sledding accidents:
– Make sure somebody there has transportation, or at least a cell phone. In the event that something goes wrong, a form of transportation may be needed to get the person who is hurt somewhere safe, or possibly to a hospital. If a vehicle is not an option, make sure that someone in the group has a cell phone with them. Keep it somewhere safe so that it isn’t lost while sledding.
– Don’t sled next to busy roads. There have been reports of sledders being hit by vehicles after either sledding into the road or standing on the side of the road. Go somewhere safe that’s a short walk away from the road to avoid being hit by cars.
– Don’t sled near trees. If someone were to crash into a tree, they could do serious damage to their organs, as well as sustain broken bones. Make sure that the pathway on which you are sledding is clear of trees.
Writer Anissa Aldana
– Wait until there is nobody in the sledding pathway, and make sure you leave the pathway as soon as you come to a stop. To avoid hitting someone while sledding, be sure the pathway is completely clear of all people. If there is one person just standing at the bottom, and you think you won’t hit them, don’t risk it. People experienced in sledding know that the sled could go in a different direction than expected at any time, so don’t just assume you won’t hit anyone. That hill may begin to be a little too tempting, but it’s not going anywhere. So have patience and wait until the pathway is all clear.
– Don’t sled in an area marked “DO NOT …” If there is a sign telling you not to do something, it’s obviously there for a valid reason. Trespassing does not make anyone cool; it will just get them in trouble if something goes wrong.
– Use common sense. Fitting five people onto a two-person sled may seem like a good idea at the time, but once a bump is hit, that decision may be regretted. Use common sense and if safety is doubted, sled elsewhere.
Sledding is a fun, exciting way to take advantage of the cold and often dreaded snow. But sledding won’t be fun if it ends with someone getting seriously injured. Have fun for the remainder of winter, but most importantly, stay safe.
EDITOR’S NOTE: WNLP is proud to occasionally feature the work of students in LaPorte High School teacher Angela Saoud’s Hi Times/journalism class.
