Personal Injury Law

Winter Sports Dangers: A few things you should know before hitting the slopes

By Bruce Stern

Although winter sports may be a fun way to keep active while there is snow on the ground, many of us don't realize the serious dangers these activities pose to our health. Those who play winter sports, such as ice hockey, skiing and snowboarding place themselves at an increased risk for developing concussions. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have offered some safety tips for winter sports:

• Be sure to always wear a helmet. Additionally, make sure the helmet is properly fitted and well-maintained.
• Make sure you and your friends know the warning signs of a concussion.
• If you are a parent or coach, carry the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's four-step concussion action plan with you on the ice and on the slopes. Among other things, the plan will remind you to remove any young athletes with a concussion from play, have them evaluated by a medical professional right away, inform their parents about the concussion, and keep them out of play until a medical professional says it's all right for them to return to the slopes or hockey field.
• Order a poster developed by the CDC, the National Football League, USA Hockey, the U.S. Ski and Snowboarding Association, and 12 other national governing bodies for sports. Display the poster in team locker rooms, gymnasiums, schools, ice rinks, and competition and tournament sites.

Concussions can be caused by many things including, a bump, blow or jolt to the head, or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. Although many people with a concussion will recover quickly and fully, others may have more severe symptoms that can last for days or weeks, and some concussions can have devastating long-term effects that can last for months or a lifetime.

Full post as published by Traumatic Brain Injury Law Blog on January 31, 2011 (boomark / email).