Quick Tips for Staying Safe While Enjoying Winter Sports

Cold and snowy Canadian winters allow for many fun outdoor activities like skating and tobogganing. When your children are outside playing, avoid the chance of injury by taking the right precautions.

To fully enjoy the pleasures of winter, make sure your kids are wearing the appropriate clothes to stay warm and dry. Dressing in layers allows for more flexibility for changing weather and participation in outdoor activities. Layers are also more comfortable and create an air space between the skin and the cold for extra warmth. Always make sure your head, neck and hands are covered. When selecting winter clothes for your child, avoid drawstrings or long scarves that could get caught in a toboggan or other outdoor equipment. Choose a neck warmer instead of a scarf.

Protect your child by putting sunscreen on their exposed skin before they go outside to play. Even in the winter and during cloudy days, the sun can cause harm to your child’s skin.

Tips for playing safe outside in the winter:

Check your equipment each season to make sure it still fits and is in good condition.
Advise children of playing boundaries and ensure that they stay away from dangerous areas like open water, roads and cliffs.
While skating, make sure that young learners have access to proper support by holding your hand or the railing around the rink.
Always have an adult supervise children playing near or on the ice.
When tobogganing, make sure the hill is safe. Do not allow kids to sled near roads, parking lots, rocks, trees or fences.
Make sure your children always wear proper safety gear, especially a helmet designed for the activity taking place.
Check for product recalls for helmets or other sports equipment.

Keep safety top-of-mind when playing outside in the winter. Children can be seriously injured if they crash and hit their heads, run into an object or another person, or fall through ice into open water.

To report an incident, contact the manufacturer or retailer. You are also encouraged to contact Health Canada.

More tips on keeping your child safe while enjoying winter sports can be found online at Canada.ca.