Winter sports are popular in Alaska, especially riding snow machines (also known as snowmobiles). Each year, many people, including children, suffer serious injuries while using a snow machine. Head injuries are the leading cause of serious injury or death on snow machines.
Passengers Are At Greater Risk
Unknown to many, head injuries are more common among snow machine passengers than drivers. It takes strength and stamina to be a passenger on a snow machine. Passengers must hold on tightly for long periods of time. They are unable to see snow machine shifts in advance. This is even more difficult when a snowmobile is running over bumpy ground at a high speed.
Accidents occur more often when children double on youth snow machines. Youth snow machines are not designed as passenger machines. Passengers also distract drivers. All drivers, young and old, must pay close attention. No matter the ages of our passengers, drivers are responsible for very precious cargo. Even machines built for passengers increase risk of injuries. Passengers are often higher, making the snow machine less stable.
Does The Machine Fit Your Child?
It is important for young riders to be on the right size snow machines. Riders who are too large overload the capability of a youth machine. Even more dangerous are riders who are too small for the horsepower and weight of adult machines. They cannot reach the controls and have difficulty controlling the snow machine. Their feet dangle above the running boards and foot wells. Without solid footing, children cannot shift body weight while riding. Riders who are too small cannot shift their weight to balance the sled.
Learn more about snow machining safety for your entire family. Great sites such as: SnowTracks and Snoriders are entirely devoted to helping keep you and your loved ones safer while enjoying the great outdoors. In addition, sites dedicated to child safety and well-being, such as Caring for Kids provide great ideas for added safety while snow machining with your kids.
The Merdes Law Firm has been helping injured Alaskans for more than 30 years. It’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us… We’re here if you do.
Contributing Research: Lori Merdes
Photo Source: Greater/Grand Sudbury Police. Accessed November 9, 2018
