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Health Canada offers tips for safe winter sports

January 27, 2023   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

When it gets cold during our Canadian winter, the ice and snow provide an opportunity for some outdoor fun.

However, when enjoying these outdoor activities, it’s important to take the proper precautions to avoid injury.

Health Canada offers a few tips about the precautions you should take and the equipment you need to keep kids safe during the winter months.

Tobogganing and skating are popular winter pastimes, but they can present some inherent dangers as well.

The most common injuries happen from collisions with objects or other people, or a fall through ice into open water.

You can lessen the chance of injury by checking equipment each season to make sure it still fits and is in good condition. Make sure your children wear proper safety gear – especially a helmet designed for the activity.

Do not use sleds near roads, parking lots, rocks, trees, or fences.

Avoid skating on ponds where the ice is not the appropriate thickness or near open water. Dress children warmly and in layers, and watch out for frostbite on cold days.

Use a neck warmer instead of a scarf and do not use clothing with drawstrings or cords, which can get caught or tangled on objects and cause strangulation.

When skating, always wear a helmet, and have skaters all moving in the same direction on the ice. Make sure young children learning to skate have proper access to support when on the ice.

By taking some simple precautions, you can enjoy winter activities and reduce the risk of injury or death.

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