The following reminder might seem just a bit premature, with winter snow still many weeks - if not months - away, but the Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus seeks to give us all a bit of a forewarning as to the number and severity of child injuries caused by sledding accidents each year.

Many of us tend to underestimate the dangers associated with such a traditional and time-honored activity, focusing instead, perhaps, on the enduring memories of bonding, laughter, crisp air, cocoa and all the other positive elements related to childhood.

That is a mistake, according to safety experts, for sledding mishaps are commonplace. Moreover, they can be quite serious: Hospital spokesperson Candace A. Howell says that almost 230,000 patients were treated in U.S. emergency rooms for sledding injuries over a recent 10-year period. More than one third of those injuries were head-related, and over nine percent of them involved traumatic brain injuries.

Additionally relevant statistics include these: Extremely young children (four and under) are much more likely to suffer head injuries; the mean age of injured children is 11; boys account for about 60 percent of sledding-related emergency room visits; and fractures and contusions are the most common types of injuries.

And what of the conveyance itself? Parents and other care providers should know that snow tubes and sleds that rotate can be especially dangerous, given the lack of steering control associated with them.

The bottom line for increased safety: Kids should use a traditional sled, sled in an area free of obstacles and removed from traffic, and wear a helmet.

Related Resource: www.medpagetoday.com "Sledding Injuries Common in Kids, Can Be Severe" August 23, 2010