"First and foremost, sledding should be supervised by a responsible adult, particularly children under 5," says Dr. Sanders. "Children should only sled sitting up and facing forward. Sledding headfirst is extremely dangerous," she shares. She advises to avoid crowded sledding hills, areas with obstacles like trees, fences, walls or rocks, and separate older, heavier children from younger ones. This also includes avoiding sledding near busy roads or during the night when visibility is limited. A great way to avoid injury is to use each sled properly and with appropriate gear. "Children under the age of 12 should wear a helmet, and all children should wear padded clothing, gloves or mittens, and appropriate footwear," she adds.