With the coldest months of the year upon us, it is only a matter of time until the first snowfall of the season hits. And it certainly did Jan. 23.

Sledding, a seasonal favorite for children of all ages seeking thrills, is probably high on their to-do lists as the first flakes hit the ground.

Although it is one of the most exciting activities your children can enjoy this time of year, Jennifer Janco, MD, chief of pediatric medicine at St. Luke’s University Health Network, said it is a great idea to keep your head on straight when it comes to your children’s safety, in light of the fact that 229,000 sledding injuries between 1997 and 2007 sent children to emergency rooms across the country.

Additionally, a 2007 study performed in upstate New York showed that children reach an average speed of 19 miles per hour when sledding downhill.

“Those are some serious figures, so it’s good to remember that sledding, while it can be a great time for the kids, should also be done safely and supervised by adults,” William S. Hoff, MD, FACS, chief of St. Luke’s trauma and acute care surgery, said. “It’s also why I strongly recommend children wear helmets when sledding. It’s just as important as having them wear a bicycle helmet.”

Hoff said that, while fitting your son or daughter with a helmet before sledding may appear overprotective, you could be potentially saving them from very serious injuries that can occur. Of the 200,000-plus injuries mentioned above, 34 percent involved head injuries.

Other research, conducted several years ago at University of Michigan, also points to the need for children to be protected while sledding. Between 2003 and 2011, 52 children were admitted to his hospital with sledding injuries - 20 of which were head injuries. More than 70 percent of them required admittance to a hospital’s intensive care unit. A full 10 percent of the injuries ended in permanent disability for the child, according to the study.

“This research shows that sledding accidents can cause life-changing injuries your child may never recover from,” Hoff said. “However, the same study showed that wearing a helmet can cut life-threatening sledding injuries in half.”

Hoff noted there are a few tips parents can follow to reduce head injuries during sledding:

• Use a safe sled, preferably one that can be steered. Many tubes and toboggans can be unsafe because they travel at very high rates of speed when going downhill;

• Sit face-forward on your sled, and avoid going down the hill headfirst. This can greatly increase the chance of head injury;

• Make sure the hill your children are sledding on is free of obstacles (e.g. jumps, ramps) and isn’t too icy. These factors also can increase chance of a head injury; and

• Actively supervise your children. Make sure they are sledding in a safe and sensible manner.

“Make your kids wear helmets when sledding, particularly if they’re 12 or younger,” Hoff asserts. “Helmets designed for winter sports work best, but at least be sure they at least wear a bike helmet or something similar. You could be heading off big trouble for your child.”