Sledging 'has hidden dangers'

Sledgers are advised to take safety precautions

Sledging is more dangerous than most people think, according to a study.

Researchers who studied accident figures in Aberdeen found that the activity was blamed for 10% of children's injuries.

The study, published in the Emergency Medicine Journal, was carried out when the first snow of winter fell in December 2002 and January this year.

The report's authors have called for safety instructions to be issued with the sale of all sledges.

During the two weeks covered by the study 422 children required emergency treatment in the city.

Twenty five boys and 21 girls aged between two and 13 required treatment for sledging injuries.

There seems to be very little awareness that sledging is a potentially dangerous activity and few safety precautions are taken Report's authors

Three children had to be admitted to hospital with head injuries, while there were also nine broken legs and seven broken arms.

A total of eight children had to be admitted to hospital, 12 required outpatient appointments and 26 were allowed to go home after treatment.

Almost a third of the cases involved children falling off a sledge.

In almost all the incidents the children had been on plastic sledges, although one had been using a skateboard.

More than 25% of the injuries were caused after children collided with stationary objects.

The report's authors recommend that children wear protective headgear and gloves while sledging.

Young novices

They said youngsters should choose slopes which are free of trees, posts or bollards.

"Sledges travel fast, are difficult to steer and hard to brake," they said.

"They are often driven by young novices on slopes that are crowded, unprepared and unsupervised.

"There seems to be very little awareness that sledging is a potentially dangerous activity and few safety precautions are taken."