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Team coverageAt least five serious sledding accidents over the past several days.
The latest involved two girls from Ogden. Six-year old Nikel Davenport was sledding with her friend on a hill at El Monte Golf Course in Ogden yesterday when the sled hit a tree. Nikel suffered a laceration and skull fracture that required surgery to repair. Doctors performed surgery to treat a very serious skull fracture.
Her friend was treated and released.
Ogden Fire Department Battalion Chief Corey Barton says the hill, which has a tree in the middle and a retaining wall at the end, was icy when the crash happened.
The accidents have triggered warnings from both doctors and paramedics.
Nikel's mom, Billie Patrick, has a warning to parents. "I would say wear a helmet. I mean, it can be really critical. She says, "I mean ,kids are young and their bones get hurt easy. I mean, all you can do is be safe. I mean accidents happen, but keep them as safe as you can and do everything you can to make sure of that."
Dr. Lorin Browne, an emergency physician at Primary Children's Medical Center, says on the right hills and in the right environment, sleds can travel as fast, or faster than a snowboard or a ski. That's why they recommend a skiing-certified helmet.
Browne says, "The American Academy of Orthopedics actually recommends not only a helmet, but that when you go down you separate younger children from older children."
On one side, the bigger and older children who go faster, and on the other side the younger children.
Browne also recommends parents scope out sledding areas. Look for hills no steeper than 30 degrees and a long, flat area where the sleds can slow down and come to a stop. There should be no trees, no parking lots and no streets unless there are cushioned barricades.
Jenni Mills says, "My kids are pretty safe. They know what they trust themselves to do and what they don't. And hay bales make it easy for them to stop."
Browne says, "It's better to go sitting up with your head in the rear, laying down on your back so your feet go first. Most people who hit something are leading with their head."
Browne says tubes are the most dangerous because they have no steering. Sleds with steering are far better for younger kids. Browne also suggests one or both parents or an adult supervise kids while they're sledding.
Though Nikel's injuries were serious, she'll make a full recovery and will probably be released from the hospital within three to four days.
E-mail: eyeates@ksl.com
E-mail: rjeppesen@ksl.com
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
E-mail: tcallan@ksl.com
(Copyright 2008 Bonneville International Corporation. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or distributed. AP contributed to this report.)
