Sledding down a steeply pitched slope sparkling with snow is one of childhood’s great joys. But it also poses a significant risk of catastrophic injury to children, according to a new study presented over the weekend at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition in Boston.
The study found that around a third of children hospitalized for a sledding injury suffered significant head injuries, and 10 percent of these children had a permanent disability. Researchers reviewed data on 52 children under the age of 18 who were hospitalized at a pediatric trauma center from 2003 to 2011.
Head injuries were sustained by 37 percent of the children, with 70 percent of these admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. The most common cause of injury? When a sled hit a tree, which occurred in 63.5 percent of the cases.
Clearly, the study’s findings make a strong case for the need for public education campaigns that encourage helmet use while sledding. And then there’s this sobering statistic.
Last year a first-ever analysis of U.S. emergency room reports published in the journal Pediatrics found that sledding accidents accounted for more than 20,000 injuries to kids and teens each year. That’s a lot of hurt for an activity that takes place for just a few days out of the year.
A catastrophic injury such as a sledding accident often occurs unexpectedly and results in permanent disabilities or death. If you or a loved one has experienced a catastrophic injury, Sokolove Law may be able to help.