The risk of an accident while sledding should not be underestimated. According to the Swiss Accident Prevention Advisory Center (BFU), 6,500 people are injured each year while tobogganing and need medical treatment. On average, one toboggan accident is fatal each year.
Most injuries result from accidents involving yourself, but also from collisions with people, trees, poles or barriers. Wearing the right clothes and following a few codes of conduct can reduce the risk of an accident.
wear protective clothing
As with skiing, you should wear waterproof ski pants and a winter jacket for tobogganing. A helmet is important to protect your head in the event of an accident. In Switzerland, only half of people sledding with helmets. According to the BFU, about 15 percent of sled injuries affect the head. The helmet can prevent serious skull and brain injuries. Benedikt Heer, Sports and Exercise Consultant at the BFU, recommends that those who do not wear a ski helmet wear a hat and a bicycle helmet.
Back armor mitigates falls and provides protection against V-injuries. You absolutely need good vision to sled safely. Ski goggles are suitable for this. They protect the eyes and do not let the wind through.
You should wear waterproof shoes with a good profile. Provides better handling when braking. If there is very hard snow, additional braking aids can be used. They consist of iron-tipped soles and can be attached to shoes.
Be careful
You have to be careful not to collide with other sleds. The rule that sleds from above should be considerate of drivers ahead. You should always adjust your skiing behavior according to the weather, snow conditions and the number of people on the sled run.
set speed
Basically, it’s better to drive slowly than too fast. The faster you slide down, the less control you have when steering and braking. There may be more accidents. You should not exaggerate yourself and always adjust your pace to the situation and circumstances.
Overtake only if there is enough distance
If someone in front of you is going too slowly, you can overtake from the right or left. But only if there is enough space. Both sleds must have free space for any movement. That way, you won’t have an unfortunate collision.
Don’t stop after a corner
The toboggan run takes you down the mountain at high speed. If you want to get off the sled or take a break, you should not do it in the middle of the track or after a bend. To do this, you must stay on the edge, or even off the edge if possible, to avoid colliding with others.
When can children go sledding alone?
According to Benedikt Heer, children from the age of eight can go sledding on their own. Of course it depends on the conditions and difficulty of the toboggan run. Adult supervision should be provided at all times.
Which sled is the safest?
Choosing the right sled depends on the terrain you want to sled. A slope in a mountainous area often has a hard surface, lots of bends and lots of snow. A sled made of wood is best suited for this. Incline runners on the bottom make you more flexible and allow you to take corners better.
What to do if someone is hurt?
In the event of an accident, every sledder must provide first aid. The accident site is secured first and marked so that others can see and prevent the accident early. The emergency department can be reached by calling 144.
What are the most common mistakes when sledding?
One of the most common mistakes is to misjudge your own abilities and go too fast. Also, the correct protective clothing is often not worn. That’s why so many car accidents happen. It happens that a sleigh route is chosen that does not suit you repeatedly. Families with young children should opt for the easier toboggan tracks over bobsleigh tracks.