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Most dangerous sports on our trails |  |
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Children and adults alike can protect themselves from injuries on the trail. In looking at statistics (see below) for the past ten years, the most dangerous sport or our trail users is bicycling. Horseback riding comes in about tenth. The most common injury is a head and neck injury, regardless of helmet use. Helmets reduce the incidence of more serious injury or death. Parents should be especially concerned about bike racing, where there is the highest incidence of sport injury, even over football. See the statistics below. How to reduce mt. bike injuries on the trails? 1. SLOW DOWN AND KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS. 2. Seriously consider whether allowing your child to competitively race on mt. bikes is a good idea. If so, provide complete body protection and a GOOD certified helmet with neck support. 3. If you wish to compete in mt. bike racing, do not practice on multi-use trails, but on dedicated race trails, which are safer, legal, and where you won't be slamming into other trail users. There is a reason there are mt. bike speed limits on multi-use trails! Most people think the speed limits are there for the safety for other trail users, but many of the injuries reported is either a solo bike or two bikes running into each other at high speed. SPEED LIMITS FOR MT. BIKES ON MULTI-USE TRAILS The vehicle code and State Park rule states that the speed limit for bicycles on MULTI-USE trails is 15 MPH, unless encountering pedestrians or equestrians, or a blind curve or hill, then 5 MPH. Mt. bikes are to yield to foot traffic, including hikers, runners, horses. If these limits are observed on multi use trails, there is a greatly reduced chance of bike-related injuries. How about other trail users? Horseback riding is usually in the bottom of the top ten of sports injury statistics, but there, nevertheless. Most injuries are sustained in horse racing or in jumping competition. Runners sustain sprains, breaks and falls, but not in the top ten. Here are some sports injury stats... "After motorsports, cycling is probably the sport in which you're most likely to get killed. Racing is dangerous. Mountain biking is dangerous. Just riding around block is dangerous. That's why there were 2.49 million cycling injuries reported last year, the second highest total." Click here to see original webpage Bicycling is number two in total of injuries reported in 2010. Click here to see original webpage Where the injury required an emergency room visit, bicycling was number one in persons age 35-54. Click here to see original webpage Most dangerous sports for kids, bicycling is number two for total injuries that send kids to the hospital, over football. Number ten is horseback riding, especially dangerous for kids who jump their horses. Click here to see original webpage Sports Injuries in children from Childrens Hospital in Boston: The majority of head injuries occur during bicycling, skateboarding, or skating incidents. Click here to see original webpage BE SAFE, SLOW DOWN, WEAR YOUR HELMET! |
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Hidden Falls Regional Park Phase II Grand Opening Ceremony today 05/24/2013 07:32:36