A new study about the rise of sledding injuries during the pandemic indicates the need for more awareness about injury prevention.
The study was led by Dr. April Kam from Hamilton Health Services, which shows McMaster Emergency Department visits from sledding injuries tripled in 2021 and 2022.
The study has led her to call for increased attention on the harm that can come from these accidents; saying that, while most injuries are minor, serious ones occur more often than people think.
Dr. Kam says one of the best ways parents can prevent serious injuries comes from choosing the right location
Now, this isn't to say that she's anti-sledding. Kam supports it as a great family winter activity - when done safely.
Other safety tips from the Canadian Paediatric Society include sledding during the day, sitting up or kneeling instead of lying down, and using a sled you can steer rather than a disc or inner tube.
(Written by: DJ Blokzyl)