Each year, BC Children’s Hospital Emergency Department sees hundreds of children and youth for injuries resulting from winter sports, including ice hockey, ice skating, skiing, snowboarding, and tobogganing.
Last winter, BC Ambulance Service (BCAS) responded to 600 calls for recreation or sport-related injuries to children and youth (18 years and younger). Of those calls, 550 were for traumatic injuries and falls.
BC Children’s Hospital and BCAS have treated injuries, including concussions as well as more severe brain injuries, facial and dental injuries, spinal cord injuries, chest and abdominal injuries, broken bones and soft tissue injuries.
Here are some tips to help children and youth enjoy winter activities safely:
• Youth need to wear the right and appropriately-sized protective equipment when participating in any winter sport. A properly-fitted helmet should be worn at all times, and is recommended for many sports. Wrist guards are also a good idea for snowboarders since sprains and fractures are a common injury.
• Choose the right type of helmet and ensure it is CSA approved. For skiing or snowboarding, use a ski or snowboard helmet. For ice hockey or ice skating, use an ice hockey helmet. A ski, hockey or bike helmet should be worn for tobogganing.
• Make sure youth learning a new activity get proper instruction and stay within their individual skill level. Ensure they get enough practice before trying to move on to an advanced skill level.
• For sports that involve going downhill, make sure youth know how to control their speed and stop properly, especially if they are just learning or have not mastered certain skills.
• When picking a slope for tobogganing, make sure it is away from roads and free from obstacles, such as rocks, trees, and fences. Younger children should always be supervised by an adult. Never ride on a sled that is being pulled by anything motorized.
• Know the environment and the surrounding area where youth are going to be in when playing sports. For example, local authorities will often help determine if ice is thick enough for outdoor skating. Stay in bounds when skiing/snowboarding.
• Parents and caregivers should learn first aid to know how to care for an injured child.
More information is available from HealthLink BC at www.healthlinkbc.ca or by calling 8-1-1.