Doctors urge sled safety as North Texas winter storm sends more than 35 children to emergency rooms for injuries

Fort Worth, Texas – A powerful winter storm that blanketed North Texas with ice this weekend has brought fun outdoors to a sudden halt for many families — and sent a sharp rise of injured children to the hospital. Pediatricians are warning parents and caregivers that what might look like a snowy play day can quickly turn dangerous when ice is involved.

Doctors at Cook Children’s Health Care System say they have already treated more than 35 children for injuries related to sledding over the weekend, with patients as young as 2 years old. Medical staff report a wide range of serious injuries, including bone fractures, head and facial trauma, and internal lacerations.

Ice not snow results in serious sledding injuries

Medical experts say the danger isn’t the soft, fluffy snow many Texans are used to — but a slick sheet of ice that forms when freezing rain and low temperatures hit hard and fast.

“This is not snow that we have here in Texas; this is ice,” said Taylor Louden, M.D., medical director of emergency services at Cook Children’s Medical Center – Fort Worth. “When kids hit their head on ice, it can cause catastrophic injuries.”

Dr. Louden also issued a stark warning to families: because many sleds don’t have brakes or steering, children have little to no control once they pick up speed on icy hills. That lack of control can turn a downhill ride into a frightening crash.

“Sledding can be extremely dangerous,” said Dr. Louden.

With many children off school because of the storm, pediatricians are urging parents to think twice before letting kids run out to play on icy slopes. To help prevent injuries, doctors recommend several important safety steps:

• Always wear a helmet to protect against head injuries.

• Never be pulled behind any sort of motorized vehicle, which increases speed and risk of serious crashes.

• Do not sled on pool equipment or other non-sleds — these improvised items offer no stability or steering.

• Avoid sledding on city streets or near obstacles like trees, fences, or vehicles where children can run into something hard.

Medical teams across the area say they want children to enjoy winter weather safely, but they also want families to recognize that ice is not the same as snow — and that fun can quickly become a trip to the emergency room if precautions aren’t taken.