LanaKIDS! - Miss Skeeter's Four Winter "S's" - Sledding, Skating, Skiing and Safety

MISS SKEETER'S FOUR WINTER "S's" - SLEDDING, SKATING, SKIING AND SAFETY

So, the snow is now 12 inches deep and school is cancelled! Your mom or dad dress you in layers of warm, waterproof clothing to get you ready for a day of sledding and skating. But, be careful! Not only can the cold weather harm you, but accidents can occur, as well. Most outdoor accidental injuries happen during the winter season.

SAFE SLEDDING SAFE SKATING

SAFE SKIING/SNOW BOARDING

SLIP-SLIDING TO SAFE SLEDDING

Miss Skeeter Before you go sledding make sure that the "course" is safe. An adult should always check out the area to determine if there are any hazards. For instance, you don't want to sled down a hill that leads into a street or a wooded area! Have an adult choose an area that is clear of shrubs, trees, rocks, rubble and fences, and always wait for the person in front of you to get out of the path before you take your turn down the hill.

Always make sure that your sled is in good condition. Never use a broken sled and do not go down the hill headfirst. There should only be one person on the sled at all times, so let your friend have his/her OWN TURN for safety's sake. An adult should always supervise any sledding, so ask your mom or dad to go along - they actually might have a bit of fun!

*Important Note to Parents
Nearly 36,000 children under the age of 14 are injured in sled accidents each year. Young children are of special concern since their motor skills have not yet fully developed, making it harder to react quickly in an emergency situation. Never leave children unattended during these outdoor activities. If your child is too young to ride the sled alone, they are TOO YOUNG to go sledding (only one person should be on the sled at a time). Check with your local parks or recreation office for designated sledding areas in your town, to further ensure a safe path when sledding.

THE SAFETY "1, 2, 3s" OF FIGURE 8s

The local lake has finally "frozen over," so it looks like you'll be skating in no time. But wait! How do you know the ice is thick enough to skate on?

The answer to this question is so important when making a decision on where to go skating. Of course, with an indoor rink, you don't have to worry about falling through the ice, but how about the pond down the road? Who checks that ice to make sure it is safe?

Well, according to some parks and recreation experts, outdoor ponds and lakes need to be checked and tested by local town or county park officials before anyone should skate on them. A lake or pond MUST HAVE AT LEAST THREE INCHES of ice on top before it is safe to skate on for fun or sport. Some parks departments require four or more inches to consider it safe. Therefore, you should only skate on outdoor lakes and ponds that are taken care of by the town and tested each day - every couple of hours. Big signs will warn you of dangerous ice conditions or let you know when it is safe.

So, before you grab your hockey stick or figure skates, keep these skating tips in mind:

1.) Skate ONLY in areas designated for skating by town/park officials. If there are signs that warn of "THIN ICE," believe them, no matter how cold the weather has been! Wait until the signs allow you to skate, to avoid any unnecessary tragedies.
2.) Just because it is cold outdoors does not mean the lake is frozen. It takes several days of continuous freezing weather to create ice thick enough to skate on, and your town officials will test and re-test the ice before they say it is safe enough to skate on.
3.) Skate at indoor facilities that are monitored by "rink guards."
4.) Wear skates that are your size to avoid ankle and knee injuries. Skates that are too big or small can cause falls and other injuries.
5.) Young children just learning how to skate may want to wear a helmet to avoid head injury - a hockey or bike helmet, etc. - since falls are common. If playing hockey, wear protective equipment to safeguard yourself from injuries.
6.) Be considerate of other skaters, including those new to the ice, and try not to bump into others.
7.) If ice is not safe to skate on, it isn't safe to walk on or fish on (ice fishing) either.

*Important Note to Parents
Each winter, many children are severely injured or even killed from falling through thin ice. Before sending children off to skate on outdoor lakes and ponds, check the skating signs yourself, or, get your skates out of the attic and go along with them. Never allow your children to skate or even walk on ice that is not deemed safe by your local town officials. Ice deemed safe by your town will ensure the safety of your child.

HITTING THE SLOPES

If you ask people what they think is the most common injury from skiing or snowboarding, I bet they would say a broken leg! That's because whenever people get hurt skiing in the movies, cartoons or television shows, they always have those awful casts on their leg, hobbling around on crutches. While this used to be the case, today's equipment is designed to protect you from broken legs.

What will land you in the emergency room is a fall that hurts the muscles, tendons and ligaments in your knee, as well as breaks or sprains of the arms, wrists and hands. Experts say the best way to avoid these painful injuries is to get in shape! For instance, if your quadriceps (the muscles on the top part of your thighs) are strong, you have less of a chance of hurting your knee.

Aside from being physically in shape, you really should make sure that your equipment is in good condition. Many ski shops or resorts offer equipment inspections and "tune-ups," to make sure every nut and bolt is working properly. Bindings should be checked by a professional, and if there is any doubt, have them repaired or rent skis/boards until they are fixed.

And, just as you protect your head when riding a bike, many professional skiers and snowboarders are wearing helmets when hitting the slopes. While this is not required yet, it can help lower the risk of head injury, should you fall in hard, icy conditions or lose control in wooded areas. The helmets come in cool colors and designs - so there really is no reason not to wear one!

It is also important to know the rules of the resort/mountain at which you are skiing/snowboarding. Every ski area has a "code," and it should be followed to maintain the safety and well-being of you and all the skiers/boarders around you. The rules may look something like this:
1.) Always stay in control and be able to stop.
2.) The people who are in front of you have the right of way on a trail. Do not block a trail.
3.) Observe all the rules on posted signs, like "Danger! Do not ski this trail."
4.) Know how to safely get on and off of the ski lift.
5.) Ski/snowboard only on marked trails and those that match your ability level. Advanced or "black diamond" trails are clearly marked, so beginners should be aware of them. Don't try to show off to friends by skiing or boarding down one of these hills, since it can lead to a serious injury.

These are just a few of the many rules that need to be followed when skiing or snowboarding. Every resort has a ski patrol to make sure everyone is following the rules and to aid anyone who is injured.

There are also many personal safety rules that must be followed:
1.) Never ski/snowboard in icy conditions, since stopping will be difficult.
2.) If you're tired, rest immediately.
3.) Wear a helmet to protect yourself from injury. You wear one to rollerblade and bike, why not to ski as well?
4.) Make sure that your equipment is the right size for you. It will reduce the risk of hurting yourself.
5.) Never ski down a trail that is too difficult for you.
6.) Be aware of frostbite and hypothermia (see the section on these cold weather concerns).

By following all these rules, you should be able to avoid most injuries, however, sometimes accidents do occur. If there is an accident, most ski patrols follow very specific rules. Make sure you know what to do in case of an emergency. Many resorts have injured skiers place their skis in an "X" shape above their heads. This alerts the patrol, as well as other skiers, that someone is in trouble and needs immediate medical assistance.

Remember that skiing and snowboarding can be exciting and fun, but make sure you follow the rules and use common sense when participating in these sports. Stay safe and warm!

*Important Note to Parents:
Most ski areas offer lessons, from beginner to advanced courses. It is always good to have new skiers/snowboarders go for professional lessons, which are often offered in package deals when renting ski equipment at the resort/mountain. Even advanced skiers would be wise to "brush up" on their skills with occasional lessons, especially when going on the first trip of every season. Adults should also supervise children when skiing or snowboarding, especially beginners, and make sure that young skiers who are not able to read are familiar with trail signs and their color-coding to prevent going down a trail too difficult for them.