2015-10-07 P & R Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Check Out The HIIII -Sled Safe . I I I Why Should We Be Concerned About Sledding , Safety? , At 5o kph,a speed easily reached on sliding hillsr any fall or collision can cause serious injury and death • The majority of sliding related injuries occur to the 5 to 9 and 10 to 14 year age groups(injury statistics are recorded separately for these age groups). In these age groups 60-70%percent of the injuries are to males. Between August 1995-March 1996,133 children under the age of 17 pre- sented to Emergency Departments in Edmonton area hospitals(Capital Health Authority). This does not include the children who may have pre- sented at a medi-center or a private physician's office with injuries. Fourteen children of the 133,required inpatient hospitalization for their injuries (e.g.fractures,concussions). • Sledding injuries appear to have a higher hospitalization rate than most injury causes(Rowe,1994). • In Ontario,one death per year is attributed to sledding(unpublished data, Ontario Chief Coroner's Office,Wynne,1994). • In Calgary in January'1995,a 4year-olddied fence.Thelchild who wan asefirst and two other children were riding strucksuffered brain damage on the toboggan,and who was a helmet,s wearing and the third child and died. The second child had a fractured thigh, walked away. The incident occurred with parental supervision. . The Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary reports that,since 1990,50%of sledding injuries have been to the head. 1 The law is extremely protective of children. • When a sliding injury occurs,parties named in a lawsuit are likely to be held at least partially responsible for the consequences. • The incidence of claims for sledding injuries is increasing-including the incidence of claims for minor injuries. Approximately$4.0 million has been paid out or set aside to cover future settlements for claims matte against municipalities,as a result of sliding injuries on municipal property over the past 8 years. These claims have been paid by the insurance industry who is funded by municipalities and ultimately the tax payer. Page 2