By Rita Colorito on December 9, 2011 in
Whether you sled on a flexible mat or a humungous inflatable tube, the one thing downhillers should always use is a helmet, say orthopedic injury prevention experts backed up by recent studies.
The numbers
A recent study, presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition in October, found that in sledding accidents, head injuries accounted for 30 percent of children's hospitalizations.
Researchers reviewed data on 52 children younger than 18 who were hospitalized at a pediatric trauma center from 2003 to 2011. In 63.5 percent of the cases, the most common cause of injury was a sled hitting a tree. Of these cases, 37 percent resulted in head injuries, with 70 percent of these children admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. Three children suffered permanent disability, including cognitive impairment, and two others required long-term hospitalized rehabilitation. Other sledding injuries included fractures (17 children); solid organ injuries (10); vertebral fractures (3); and chest trauma (1). Nine orthopedic injuries required surgery, and eight patients were sent home with a cast.
Don't let these small numbers fool you into sliding the slopes with abandon. A 2010 study conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital found that from 1997-2007, an estimated 229,023 children and adolescents younger than 19 years were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments for sledding-related injuries - an average of more than 20,000 cases annually.
The Nationwide Children's Hospital study also revealed that 51 percent of injuries occurred during a collision, and there is more of a likelihood of traumatic brain injury resulting from collisions than other mechanisms of injury. Overall, the head was the most commonly injured body part, accounting for 34 percent of injuries.
Protect your noggin when sloggin'
The results of the latest study show the need for more education on the potential dangers of sledding and the importance of helmet use, according to lead author Richard Herman, MD.
"We've seen a large increase in severe injuries resulting from sledding over the past year," said Dr. Herman in a release by the AAP.
"To reduce the risk of injury, sledding areas should be clear of trees and other obstacles and should have sufficient run-out areas away from streets. In addition, sledding on streets and highways should be avoided to prevent collisions with motor vehicles and other traffic," said Lara McKenzie, PhD, principal investigator in the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital, in a released statement.
You might think only someone with a screw loose would sled on a street or highway, but the Nationwide Children's Hospital study found these locales account for 16 percent of sledding injuries. Or sledders make the mistake of choosing a run without enough landing room that spills onto a street or highway.
Some other ways to keep your head while sledding:
- Choose a helmet for high-speed impact, like a ski or snowboarding helmet, say experts. ConsumerSearch.com has a list of top rated ski/snow helmets.
- Go manual. The use of motorized vehicles (ATVs, etc) to pull sleds is a growing concern, according to researchers at Nationwide Children's Hospital, with fractures accounting for one third of injuries sustained when sledding this way.
- Always go downhill face forward, feet first, to reduce the risk of head injury.
- Sled a hill that's free of trees, rocks and other hard obstacles.
- Choose a sled that can be steered, to help you avoid collisions. To find a great sled, check out this article on sled reviews.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and Nationwide Children's Hospital have other helpful sledding safety tips on their website.