Sledding In MoCo: What to Wear, Frostbite Signs, Best Spots

ROCKVILLE, MD — Good news for students: classes are canceled for Montgomery County schools on Monday, Jan. 14.

And we all know what that means: it's sleddin' time.

Montgomery Parks has shared its list of the best sledding hills for kids and adults to try. But before you check them out, it's important to brush up on your sledding and winter weather safety tips. County officials have posted the following safety reminders below:

Choose the Right Sledding Hill

• When hills get coated with snow, they may all look like great locations for sledding, but be very careful when choosing a location for your kids to sled.
• Select a hill that is not too steep and has a long flat area at the bottom for your kids to glide to a stop.
• Avoid hillsides that end near a street or parking lot. Make sure the bottom of the slope is far from streets, traffic and frozen or partially frozen ponds, lakes or creeks.
• Avoid hillsides that end near ponds, trees, fences, or other hazards.
• Make sure the hill is free of obstacles such as jumps, bumps, rocks, poles, or trees before your kids begin sledding.
• Choose hills that are snowy rather than icy. Icy slopes make for hard landings if kids fall off a sled.

The Sled
Use equipment that is sturdy and safely constructed. Avoid equipment with sharp and jagged edges.

• Look for energy-absorbing pads on sled seats.
• Examine handholds on sleds to be sure they are secure.
• Ensure sleds and toboggans have steering devices that work easily and don't jam.
• Only sled feet first while sitting up. Sledding head-first can increase the risk of head injury.
• Never ride in a sled pulled by a motorized vehicle and always sled during the daytime, when visibility is better.

How to Dress for the Weather

• Kids should wear sensible winter clothing — hats, gloves or mittens, snow pants, winter jacket, snow boots — that is waterproof and warm, and change into something dry if their clothes get wet.
• Don't let kids wear scarves or any clothing that can get caught in a sled and pose a risk of strangulation.
• Make your kids wear helmets when sledding, particularly if they're 12 or younger. Helmets designed for winter sports work best, but if you don't have one, make sure they at least wear a bike helmet or something similar.
• Set time limits on outdoor play. Call children in periodically to warm up with drinks such as hot chocolate.
• When possible, avoid taking infants outdoors when it is colder than 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Infants lose body heat quickly.

Frostbite Treatment
If a child complains of numbness or pain in the fingers, toes, nose, cheeks or ears while playing in the snow, or if the skin is blistered, hard to the touch or glossy, take these steps:

• Take the child indoors.
• Call a doctor.
• Tell the child to wiggle the affected body part(s) to increase blood supply to that area.
• Warm the frozen part(s) against the body. Hold fingers to the chest, for example.
• Immerse frozen part(s) in warm, not hot, water. Frozen tissue is fragile and can be damaged easily.
• Avoid warming with high heat from radiators, fireplaces or stoves, and avoid rubbing or breaking blisters.

Signs of Hypothermia
Hypothermia is the excessive lowering of body temperature. A drop in core temperature below 95 degrees F., causes shivering, confusion, loss of muscle strength, and if not treated leads to unconsciousness and death.

Safety experts estimate that half of all drowning victims die from the fatal effects of hypothermia and cold water, not the fatal effects from water filled lungs.

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