TRI-CITIES, Wash. – While conditions aren’t great for driving, they are great for sledding. Kids and adults have been gathering on snow-covered hills around the area to enjoy time as a family.
Carmichael Hill in Richland had many people gather to take advantage of the snow the area has recently gotten. One parent said he and his wife ensure their kids are safe by minding their surroundings.
The cold weather was no match for the fun had in Richland. Doug Knighton is one of many parents who took their kids to the hill for sledding.
“It’s just fun,” said Knighton. “Anytime we get together as a family and hang out together, we enjoy it.”
Knighton said the sledding is fun, but he ensures his kids are safe while enjoying the rush of sliding down the snow-covered hill.
“My wife is really good,” he said. “She’s better than I am, honestly. She’ll tell the kids, make sure you’re walking up the sides. Make sure you’re watching out for people down below. There’s not a referee or anything, so you’ve just got to use your head more than anything.”
According to the University of Michigan Medicine, more than 20,000 emergency department visits yearly are sledding-related accidents.
The Pasco Fire Department‘s Public Information Officer, Ben Shearer, said finding a safe spot while sledding is essential.
“Making sure where they’re sledding is safe to be sledding,” said Shearer. “It’s been approved for that area. Making sure where there is sledding is appropriate and making sure everybody knows that’s what’s happening there.”
While staying safe and aware is essential, you should also have some fun. One of the many kids sledding down Carmichael Hill was Aliana. She said it’s all about technique. She said her favorite way to go down the hill is feet first.
“I like how I go fast and go on the bumps because it’s a lot of fun,” Aliana said.
Shearer said parents should remind their kids to use common sense to avoid injuries.
“I’ve seen kids go down the hill and they just pick up their sled and start running back straight up where they just came down,” said Shearer. “Well, that’s where everybody else is sledding too. So then you get these near misses. People almost getting run over.”
Shearer said that things fall apart with the cold: heating systems, cars, and bodies. Shearer said you should stay warm like anything else in the winter months.
“Don’t overwork your body,” he said. “If you’re starting to feel too cold, starting to feel dehydrated, take care of it early. Don’t wait until you’re already sick.”
According to Shearer, cold weather also brings drier air that could cause dehydration. Some things to look for are chapped lips and heavy breathing.
He recommends bringing items like water or hot chocolate. Shearer said it doesn’t matter what temperature the liquid is; have something to prevent getting to that point.
