AVOIDING SPORTS INJURIES The competitive nature of today's athletics and desire to push the human body beyond its limits can lead to serious injuries.  Enjoy sports and stay safe by playing by the rules. For more information, visit the following links: Baseball:  Tips to Prevent Baseball Injuries (AAOS) Basketball:  Tips to Prevent Basketball Injuries (AAOS) Football: Tips to Prevent Football Injuries (AAOS)  Hunting:  Firearm Safety, Firearms Injury Prevention (AAP), Hunter Education  Soccer: Tips to Prevent Soccer Injuries (AAOS)  and A Guide to Safety for Young Athletes (AAOS

SUMMER SPORTS
Biking The freedom of riding a bike can't be beat, but following a few safety tips and obeying the rules of the road can help you stay safe.  Always wear a properly fitted helmet. Over 85% of head injuries can be prevented by wearing a helmet. Keep your bicycle in good working condition. For more information on safe cycling, visit the following link: Community Safety Series   Boating Before you set off in your boat this summer, remember these important safety tips: Have life jackets for everyone on board!  Children under 12 years old must wear a life jacket on any boat.  Children under 16 must wear a life jack on a sailboat. If the kids go out for a paddle they should always stay within eyesight of an adult. Never drink and drive a boat. For more information on safe boating, visit the following links: Vermont Boating Safety Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Safe Boating Week Avoiding Hypothermia in a Boating Accident (Boat Safe) American Red Cross Water Safety Tips   Inline Skating (i.e. roller blading) Wear a helmet. Use wrist and elbow guards to avoid fractures in the wrist and elbows. Don't go far until you know how to stop (safely)! Note: Roller shoes are just like roller blades and require the same kind of safety gear.  Visit the following links for more information: Inline Skating Safety Tips (National Safety Council)  Roller Shoe (Heely) Safety   Jet Skiing Riding the waves is fun and exhilerating!  Stay safe and have fun.  Follow these tips: You must be 16 or older to operate a Personal Watercraft in Vermont.  The rules that apply to boats also apply to jet skis.  Wear your life jacket, use the buddy system, and ride only during the daylight hours.  As with boat operation, the same safety education and certificate is required for operators born after 1974.  For more information on jet ski safety, visit the following link: Jet Ski Safety   Scooters & Skateboards Helmets, wrist, elbow, and knee protectors need to be worn to prevent fractures.  Remember - the skateboard pros all wear helmets!  Also, wear shoes and stay our of traffic! For more information on skateboarding safety, visit the following link: Skateboarding Safety Tips - (National Safety Council)   Swimming Children under the age of four are at higher risk of drowning than older children or adults.  If a child is near water an adult should be watching carefully. If you are with a group of people it's easy to assume that someone else is watching, but that is an accident waiting to happen!  Take turns being the "water watcher."  For more information on water safety and swimming, visit the following links: Water Safety Tips - (National Safety Council) Pool Safety Tips (National Safety Council)	BOATING LAW: Vermont requires safety education (and a safe boating certificate) for boat operators born after 1974.
WINTER SPORTS
Skiing and Snowboarding Control your speed. Keep your distance from other skiers. Ski and ride like a local - WEAR A HELMET!  Vermonters know it's cool to wear a helmet and it keeps your head warm!  Check out the following links for more skiing and snowboarding safety tips: PHAT (Protect Your Head on All Terrain - A Vermont Initiative) National Safety Council (Skiing and Snowboarding Safety) American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (Skiing) Snowmobiles Snowmobiles are fast and powerful.  Just as with cars, most injuries occur in losing control of the machine and in collisions.  In Vermont, anyone born after July 1983 and anyone who is over the age of 12, must take a diver safety course, which is offered through the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST).  It goes without saying, never drink and ride.  Visit the sites below for more information: Snowmobile Safety Awareness Program Vermont Association of Snow Travelers Vermont Snowmobile Safety State of Vermont Snowmobile Safety Manual (.pdf) Ice Hockey You only need to hear the sounds of players slamming against the boards to know they need a lot of protection!  A full contact sport where players glide around on ice wearing sharp blades and carrying sticks, no doubt requires: A helmet with a face guard Mouth guard Shin guards, Gloves, and plenty of padding! Learn more about hockey safety by visiting the link below: American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (Hockey)