family health
Winter Sports & Activities
Set reasonable time limits on outdoor play to prevent
frostbite. Have children come inside periodically to warm up.
Ice Skating
Allow children to skate only on approved surfaces.
Check for signs posted by local police or recreation departments, or call
your local police department to find out which areas have been approved.
Advise your child to: skate in the same direction as
the crowd; avoid darting across the ice; never skate alone; not chew gum or
eat candy while skating.
Consider having your child wear a helmet while ice
skating.
Sledding
Keep sledders away from motor vehicles.
Children should be supervised while sledding.
Keep young children separated from older children.
Sledding feet first or sitting up, instead of lying
down head-first, may prevent head injuries.
Consider having your child wear a helmet while
sledding.
Use steerable sleds, not snow disks or inner tubes.
Sleds should be structurally sound and free of sharp
edges and splinters, and the steering mechanism should be well lubricated.
Sled slopes should be free of obstructions like trees
or fences, be covered in snow not ice, not be too steep (slope of less than
30Ί), and end with a flat runoff.
Avoid sledding in crowded areas.
Snow Skiing & Snowboarding
Children should be taught to ski or snowboard by a
qualified instructor in a program designed for children.
Young children should always be supervised by an
adult. Older childrens need for adult supervision depends on their maturity
and skill. If older children are not with an adult, they should always at
least be accompanied by a friend.
The AAP recommends that children under age 7 not
snowboard.
Slopes should fit the ability and experience of the
skier or snowboarder. Avoid crowded slopes.
Sun Protection
The suns rays can still cause sunburn in the winter.
Make sure to cover your childs exposed skin with sunscreen.
Snowmobiling
The AAP recommends that children under age 16 not
operate snowmobiles and that children under age 6 never ride on snowmobiles.
Wear goggles and a safety helmet approved for use on
motorized vehicles like motorcycles.
Courtesy of the American Academy of Pediatrics.