The snow is here and before grabbing your sled, it’s important to take precautions to be as safe as possible on the hill.
The City of Ottawa and Ottawa Public Health remind residents of the importance of wearing a hockey, ski or snowboard helmet while sledding. Proper head protection is critical when you’re sliding down a hill.
Here are some tips to keep you and your family safe without taking away from the fun:
- Protect your head when you sled: wearing a helmet will help protect your brain. Try looking for a hockey, ski or snowboard helmet for full head protection. If you’d like to learn more about helmet safety, including tips for choosing the right helmet for an activity, visit the Ottawa Public Health website.
- Continuing with the keep your head safe theme: don’t go down the hill headfirst or on your back. Sit or kneel on your sled so you have control.
- Make sure the route is clear: before going down the hill, check for hazards including other sledders, icy areas, trees, fences, roads and open bodies of water.
- Be in control: being mindful of things like your sled type, weather conditions, or even the steepness of the hill. Avoid sledding when it’s icy and make sure you have good visibility when sledding at night. Choose a sled that is easy to control and avoid crazy carpets, saucers and inflatables.
- Sled only at approved hills: Before you go, find an approved sledding hills are at ottawa.ca/sledding. These are the only hills in Ottawa considered reasonably safe for sledding. There are more than 50 approved locations across the city.
Now that you’ve reviewed these tips, it’s time to grab your helmet and sled and hit the hills!
