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Helmets
a Good Idea for Winter Sports
Dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh can
be downright dangerous.
So can skiing, skating or tobogganing. Every year, thousands
get seriously hurt while playing winter sports, and many
of those injuries are to the head.
In children, more than half of all winter sports injuries
are head injuries, according to the National Pediatric Trauma
Registry (NPTR). And the Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC) reports that almost 20,000 people receive head injuries
every year while skiing.
So what's the best way to protect your noggin while you
toboggan? A helmet.
The NPTR says none of the children who were treated for
a head injury that occurred while sledding, skiing or ice
skating were wearing helmets. Moreover, only about 10 percent
of kids who got injured playing hockey were wearing the
protective headgear.
The CPSC predicts that 7,700 head injuries could be prevented
or reduced in in severity and 11 deaths could be prevented
annually if people wore helmets while skiing and snowboarding.
Here are some other ideas from the NPTR to reduce head injuries
while enjoying winter sports:
- Don't sled head first.
- Make sure children are big enough to hold on to moving
sleds or tubes.
- Follow posted rules on the ski slope and choose trails
that match your skill level.
- Avoid areas with rocks, trees or other hazards.
- Learn how to adjust your speed properly -- and teach your
children to do the same.
Article Source: HealthDay
Article Author: N/A
Net Reference 101
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