wearing a helmet is essential for sledging enthusiasts

On the slopes of the Col de Porte ski resort (Isère), many children on their sledges wear helmets to protect themselves from shocks. Most of the skiers or snowboarders are used to it, but the precaution is less systematic among fans of sledding. But last winter, 12 children victims of sledding accidents were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit of the Grenoble hospital center. (Isère). Most of them were under the age of five.

The number of accidents has increased with the closure of the ski lifts, and the practice of sledding is on the rise. “We did a study from 2012 to 2019, and we realized that of the 29 children who had sledding trauma, there were only three who had helmets.“, recalls Doctor Émilien Maisonneuve, pediatric intensive care physician. Helmets are available for children from the age of two.