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For immediate release: January 19, 2005 (05-005)
Contacts:
Mary Borges, Washington State
SAFE KIDS Coordinator 360-236-3606
Deanna Whitman, Communications
Office 360-236-4022
Helmets can prevent head injury during winter sports
OLYMPIA ¾ Snow may be on the way, but cold weather has already arrived. While enjoying winter sports like skiing, snowboarding and sledding, the Washington State Department of Health and the SAFE KIDS Coalition reminds parents of a few simple precautions to help keep kids safe in the snow.
Nationally in 2002 nearly 70,000 children under age 14 were taken to emergency rooms for injuries resulting from winter sports, including nearly 23,000 from snowboarding; 18,000 from skiing; 14,000 from ice skating; 13,000 from sledding; and 1,500 from snowmobile crashes, according to national figures released by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.
"Many of these injuries could be prevented if children wore helmets while enjoying winter sports; a bike helmet works great for sledding and there are ski or snowboard helmets for other winter sports," said Washington State SAFE KIDS Coordinator Mary Borges. "It is also important to stay in designated areas while enjoying winter sports."
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, helmets worn during snow sports could prevent or reduce the effects of 53 percent of the head injuries suffered by children younger than age 15.
Sledding is a popular sport during the winter. In addition to wearing a helmet, there are several other things you can do to make sledding safer:
Sled in areas free from obstacles and away from traffic. Only sled with devices that have easy steering. Inspect sleds regularly for worn, damaged or loose parts that could break or snag at high speeds. Sled sitting up, feet first. Never ride a sled being pulled by a motorized vehicle.
More information on winter sport safety is available on the National SAFEKIDS Campaign Web site (http://www.safekids.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=16832&folder_id=183). Information on unintentional injury among children is available on the Department of Health’s Injury Prevention Program Web site (http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/Injury/Default.htm).
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