Snow days conjure up images of children building snowmen, snowforts and snow angels, followed by hot chocolate with lots ofmarshmallows. But one childhood tradition could soon be only apleasant memory as more and more municipalities begin institutingsledding bans because of some recent judgments requiringmillion-dollar payouts to injured sledders. For example, the countycouncil in Dubuque, Iowa is considering banning sledding in 48 ofthe city's 50 parks because of lawsuits brought against othercities.

A five-year-old girl in Omaha, Neb., was paralyzed when she hita tree while sledding and the city found itself responsible for a$2 million judgment. A man in Sioux City, Iowa, hit a sign andinjured his spinal cord, resulting in a $2.75 million payment.Following the blizzard in New England last week, a teen from LongIsland was killed while sledding when he hit a light pole andinjured his chest and ribs.

Since many municipalities are self-insured to a certain degree,these types of judgments are making authorities look for other waysto manage their risk. According to the Associated Press,communities in Iowa, New Jersey, Nebraska, Indiana and Illinois,are taking steps to restrict sledding on municipal properties.

A 2010 study conducted by the Center for Injury Research andPolicy of the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospitalin Columbus, Ohio, found that from 1997 to 2007 more than 229,000children (or an average of 20,000 children a year) under the age of19 sustained sledding injuries that required a trip to thehospital. Children between the ages of 10 and 14 experienced themost injuries – 42.5% – and boys (59.8% of the cases) were morelikely to be injured than girls. While fractures (26.3%) were themost common injuries, the head was the most frequently injured bodypart (34.1%), usually due to collisions. This raises the questionof whether or not individuals who go sledding should be wearinghelmets like they do for biking and skiing.

For municipalities, rising insurance costs have led many toassume part of the risk by self-insuring for losses in some areasup to $2 million, and then insuring larger losses throughcommercial insurers or third-party administrators. The NationalPark and Recreation Association (NRPA) says there are more than12,000 publically funded state and local recreation and parkagencies across the U.S. and these organizations are responsiblefor maintaining thousands of parks from coast to coast.

In 2011, the Trust for Public Land said more than 20,000individual parks were located within 100 of the nation's largestcities. The NRPA says that instead of outright bans on all parks,more municipalities are implementing site-specific bans on certainpublic properties where hazards may exist. They are also beingproactive and posting signs about the risks involved with sleddingto educate and protect those who use the parks.

Since sleds can reach speeds of 25 mph, proper precautionsshould be taken to protect sledders from possible injury. Here aresome considerations:

• How far away is the sledding area from roads? Accidentsoccurring on streets and highways tend to result in more headinjuries.
• Is there enough room to stop safely?
• Can sledders safely climb back up the hill without endangeringthose coming down?
• What types of hazards are nearby – e.g., trees, cars, gullies,poles, playground equipment, picnic tables, walls, fences, ponds orrivers?
• Have any immovable objects been surrounded by protectivebarriers like hay bales or inflatable bumpers?
• Are sleds that can be steered being used? (Cafeteria traysdon't fall into the category of safe sleds!)

Staying safe

The type of sled used makes a difference because of the abilityto control or steer it as one is racing down a hill. Toboggans,saucers and flat sheets are harder to steer, while more traditionalsleds provide greater control. Traumatic brain injuries accountedfor 9% of the sledding injuries and were twice as likely to occurwhen using a snow tube as compared to any other types of sledsbecause they are harder to steer.

Sledders should ride feet first down a hill because they can usetheir feet to steer more easily and this position gives them thebest vantage point for seeing oncoming hazards. Sledders who rideon their stomachs or facing backwards have limited vision andability to maneuver the sled to avoid a crash. Adult supervisiongreatly reduces the risk of injury. According to a study by theAmerican Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, more than 70% of allsledding injuries occur when an adult is not present.

Clothing can create a risk too. Sledders should be able to seeclearly and not have their vision blocked by hats and otherouterwear. Scarves should be tucked inside a coat or not worn atall since the scarf could get tangled under the sled and pull thesledder off or accidently choke him or her. Helmets are 85%effective when it comes to preventing brain injuries, and should beworn by all children who sled, particularly those under the age of12. A multi-sport or bike helmet can proved appropriateprotection.

Those who choose to go sledding must also make wise choicesabout where they sled, how many people they put on a sled, and howfast they can go down a hill and still maintain control. No onewants to put an end to a favorite pastime, but perhaps someprudence is in order.