SATURDAY, Jan. 12, 2008 (HealthDay News) -- Every year, thousands of children and adults are treated at U.S. emergency rooms for head injuries related to the pursuit of winter sports.
However, wearing a helmet and taking other precautions can protect you and your family, says the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS).
Here are the most recent (2006) winter sports-related head injury statistics from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: snowboarding, 6,326; hockey, 5,263; skiing, 4,922; skating, 2,924; sleds, snow discs and toboggans, 2,142; snowmobiles, 301.
Skiing and snowmobiling accidents are the most common causes of serious head injuries and head injury deaths.
The AANS offers simple safety tips that help reduce the risk of such head injuries:
More information
The U.S. National Library of Medicine has more about head injuries.