How to be safe while skiing and performing winter activities

There’s no need to stay cooped up inside during the winter months when there are plenty of winter activities which you can enjoy like skiing and skating. But as with any activity even winter sports run their own risk which can be quite dangerous if you’re not careful.

Nemours Health put together a list of how to keep yourself and others safe when partaking in winter sports – specifically skiing and snowboarding – which include:

• Having the proper skis: larger skis may be harder to control, speak to a professional in order to pick the proper skis for your body type
• Have proper bindings which keep your boots to the skis or snowboard. Bindings should be able to release you foot but not too easily and should be adjusted by a professional
• Boots should fit correctly – not too tight nor big. Your boots should also be warm and should be secured to your skis or snowboard
• Like skis, poles should be of appropriate length and should have loops straps which go around the wrists

• Always wear a helmet and insure the helmet fits properly and that you fasten the chin strap. Wear a proper winter activity helmet and not just a regular bike one as a skiing and snowboarding helmet as specific features for those activities
• Always wear sunglasses or goggles as the sun’s rays can be quite strong on top of the mountain along with it reflecting off the white snow
• Wear gloves or mitten – some mittens allow for hand warmers to be inserted

If you wear the proper equipment you can better protect yourself and others from accidents involving skiing and snowboarding activities.