Oh,
the Weather Outside is Frightful
Keeping
your children safe from winter weather and outdoor activities
Many
children found sleds under the Christmas tree this year, but while sledding
can be a fun thrill, it can also be dangerous.
More
than 34,000 Americans needed emergency room treatment last year as a
result of sledding injuries, and there has been a 30 percent increase
in sledding injuries in the United States since 1990, says the US
Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Children
aged 5 to 9 are most susceptible. That is because they lack experience
with speed and have underdeveloped coordination.
Sledding
on a street is five times more likely to result in an injury than sledding
in a yard or park. Most sledding accidents happen on weekends in January
and February, and people who sled in a headfirst position are most vulnerable
to injury.
Safety
Advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
The
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers the
following safety advice:
-
Use
sleds that you can steer rather than snow discs.
-
Sled
only where the bottom of the hill is away from motor traffic.
-
Watch
out for trees and snow-covered hazards.
-
Do
not ride flat. Sit up and face forward.
-
Wear
a bike helmet and mouth guard.
-
Climb
back up the hill on the side of the sled run, not in the middle
where you may be hit by another sled.
-
Do
not ride sleds onto water hazards, such as rivers or streams with
thin ice.
Always
consult your child's physician for more information.
Winter
Sunburn Risk Soars on Mountain Tops
Parents,
take note: The sun's ultraviolet A and B rays can be as strong on a
mountaintop in winter as they are at the beach in summer, a new study
says.
This
makes the risk of sunburn and the potential threat of skin cancer as
serious a concern for skiers and snowboarders as it is for swimmers.
The
study, published in a recent issue of the Archives of Dermatology,
is the first to scientifically validate the level of winter sun exposure
in those who ski—and the results surprised even the researchers.
"We
always knew that the winter sun had the potential to cause sunburn,
but we were surprised to see just how powerful those rays are—and
how quickly and easily you can get burned on a mountaintop," says study
author Dr. Darrell Rigel, a professor of dermatology at New York University
School of Medicine.
According
to Rigel's study, spending one hour on the slopes at lower elevations
at Vail, Colo., in December is equal in sun exposure to spending one
hour on the beach in New York in June.
Always
consult your child's physician for more information.
Online
Resources
American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Archives
of Dermatology
Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
US
Consumer Product Safety Commission
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February
2003
Keeping
Your Children Safe From Winter Weather and Outdoor Activities
Safety
Advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Winter
Sunburn Risk Soars on Mountain Tops
Play
It Safe With Snowboarding
Online
Resources
Find
a St. John's Mercy Physician
In
Other Children's Health News:
Play
It Safe With Snowboarding
Important
tips for equipment and rider safety
There
are few winter activities as thrilling and stylish as slicing down
the slopes on a snowboard.
However, because of its speed and tricks, snowboarding is also one
of the most dangerous winter sports.
In
2000, more than 18,500 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital
emergency rooms for snow skiing-related injuries. Another 24,700
children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for
snowboarding-related injuries.
Because
snowboarders are injured in an array of age groups, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has prepared a
safety tip sheet about the sport. Snowboarders should take a lesson,
and make sure they are physically fit before beginning a day on
the slopes. Riders should also take care before trying to jump,
since that maneuver is the greatest cause of spinal injuries for
snowboarders.
Another
important safety concern is equipment. Each time you use a snowboard,
you should inspect it to make sure it is in good condition. When
getting a new board, riders should have it adjusted and fitted in
a ski shop. Snowboarders should dress in layers, wearing wind- and
water-resistant clothing on the outside and a comfortable fabric
that dries quickly on the inside. They should also wear eye protection
and sunscreen, the CDC advises.
Perhaps
most importantly, when snowboarders are on the slopes, they should
stay in control. They should warm up on easy runs at the beginning
of the day, stay on marked trails, avoid risky tricks, and be willing
to walk down a run if it gets too difficult. Because many injuries
are caused by fatigue, snowboarders should take frequent breaks,
the CDC says.
Always
consult your child's physician for more information.
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