Cold Weather Play – Keeping Winter Sports Safe

Watching the winter games in Vancouver is enough to bring out the Olympian in all of us. It makes you want to grab your skis and hit the slopes or strap on a pair of skates and head for the ice. But, as much fun as winter sports can be they take some extra thought. Cold weather poses added challenges and you have to be careful to make sure you and your families are safe while you play.

Obviously, the biggest challenge for winter sports safety is the cold weather. It is important to make sure that you are prepared for the cold and that means wearing the right clothes. Wear layers of clothing and don’t forget hats, gloves and water proof boots. Wearing cold and wet clothes for long periods is a quick way to get hypothermia. Hypothermia sets in when your body temperature drops four degrees below normal.

While you are keeping warm don’t forget the sun. It may be cold and you may not even see the sun, but it is still there and doing a number on your skin. Remember that sun screen and sunglasses or goggles are part of winter sports safety. They will protect your eyes from the sun, glare and foreign objects.

Ice skating requires good fitting skates that are laced tightly and only worn on the ice. You should always skate on approved ice. In some cold weather areas you may be able to skate outdoors on frozen ponds or lakes, but they must be approved for skating. Outdoor skating on ice that has not been approved is very dangerous because ice that looks strong may not be thick or hard enough to support a person’s weight.

If you are a novice skier or snowboarder it is always good to invest the time in a beginner’s class to give you the basics. Also check bindings to make sure they are working properly. Most skiing and snowboarding injuries are a result of faulty bindings that do not release during a fall or spill.

Helmets are an important part of winter sports safety. Whether you are skiing snowboarding, sledding or playing hockey, you need to make sure that you are protected from head injuries. A proper fitting helmet will go a long way to keeping you safe while you are having fun in the cold.
 

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