Winter Sports Can Lead to Injuries
In Virginia and surrounding areas, we love our winter sports. It’s hard to beat the thrill of hitting the slopes or carting that Flexible Flyer to the sledding hills, but winter sports can lead to serious injuries. As you anticipate your next winter sports escapade, always put safety first.Staying Safe
With winter sports come complicated safety factors, including ice and snow, high winds, and low temperatures—but you can keep yourself and your family safe out there:- Be prepared. Like any good scout, always prepare. Always keep a first-aid kit and a fully charged cell phone with you, and carefully consider where you’ll frolic this winter—some locations are safer than others. In addition, bring along plenty of water, and drink it—winter sports can lead to dehydration.
- Use the buddy system. It’s always safer to engage in winter sports of any kind in tandem with others—if one of you gets hurt, the others can obtain necessary assistance more quickly.
- Take it slow. Don’t throw yourself headlong into the first snow of the season. Always take the time to warm up stiff muscles, which are more prone to injury, and try to ease into your winter sport of choice. Don’t overdo it. Learn to recognize your body’s signs of overexertion and heed those warnings.
- Gear up. Always wear the protective gear appropriate to your sport, and make sure that you dress warmly (with plenty of layers that you can add and remove as necessary to remain dry and comfortable). Don’t forget to protect your head with a helmet, and remember that padding and winter sports just go together—falls are imminent.
- We all fall down. Eventually, every winter-sports enthusiast will take a tumble. Learn the safest way to break your falls, and always fall as safely as possible.
- Follow the rules. The park or resort that you frequent implemented rules for a reason—carefully adhere to them.
