SNOWMOBILE SAFETY

Snowmobile Crashes are Preventable

• Safe snowmobiling is important to everyone in the Near North.  Snowmobiling has the second highest number of deaths of any recreational activity in Ontario.  Drinking and driving, excessive speeds, riding off sanctioned OFSC trails ( in 1998/99- 75% of accidents happen off OFSC trails) riding after dark and travelling in an unfamiliar area are factors that lead to many snowmobile crashes and deaths.

Be a Sober Driver

• Alcohol and snowmobiling just do not mix!  Alcohol can make you feel tired, it decreases your ability to make good decisions and slows your reaction time.  Alcohol lowers your body temperature and increases your risk of hypothermia.  Although you may feel warm your body chills dangerously.  Drinking alcohol robs you of the reaction time you need to meet trail conditions and emergencies.

• Be a responsible rider and DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE!

Follow the Rules

• A safe rider is always aware of his abilities and knows the capabilities of the machine he is operating.  It is important to know your limits and not to go beyond them.  Allowing youth without the proper training on a machine is putting them at risk for injury.  Teaching the rules of driving any motorized vehicle to youth is being a responsible parent.  Obeying the speed limits, heeding traffic signs, being alert to other traffic and riding defensively will keep you and your children at lower risk for injury.  Remember to practice what you teach!

If You Don't Know Don't Go!

• Slow down and watch for others when riding at night.  Make yourself and your machine visible by using reflectors and bright colours.  It is important not to over-drive your headlights.  there is a danger of hitting animals, trees or a structure in your path if you are traveling too fast and cannot see to react in time.  Do not travel to an unknown area at night because you will not be familiar with the terrain.  Stick to a well-marked trail to avoid unnecessary risks.  It is easy to become disoriented in snow squalls and darkness.  If you lose your way, stop until you regain your sense of direction.  Leave your machine running so that your lights can be seen.  Always travel with a buddy, never alone.  Day or night let someone know your travel plans and your expected time of arrival.

Hypothermia

• The safest snowmobile rule is "Never cross lakes or Rivers".  If you ride on the ice, be absolutely sure that the ice conditions are safe.  You have far less traction for starting, turning and stopping on the ice and snow, and the biggest danger is plunging through the ice or driving into open water.  Once you are in the cold water or wet, you are at risk for hypothermia.  Hypothermia means that your body is losing heat faster than you can produce it.  This can happen both in water or on land.  It usually kills those in the water by decreasing the person's ability to swim or stay afloat.  Victims of hypothermia must be handled with care and re-warmed slowly.

Snowmobiling is more fun when it is safe.  Consider these safety tips at all times and enjoy your outing.  Remember to respect Mother Nature at all times and dress warmly according to weather conditions.

For more information on injury prevention and safe snowmobiling, please call one of the following:

North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit at (705) 474-1400 or 1-800-563-2808 ext.2220.

Nipissing/East Parry Sound Partners in Trauma Prevention

Mattawa Snowmobile Safety Days

• This is a two-day event. This program is scheduled for February 5 and 6, 2002.

• Part of the first day, involves in-class presentations on pre-ride prevention strategies. This includes: rules of the road and trail; hypothermia; search and rescue; emergency machine repair; water rescues; and winter survival.

• The second part of the first day includes: a demonstration of a snow machine circle check; a supervised trail ride which takes students out of town to a point where a local trapper explains the importance of environmental preservation, wildlife habitat and respect for others also using the bounty nature offers. The ride concludes with a return to school in time for close of the regular school day.

• On the second day, the students' will begin with a pre-ride inspection of their machine. This is to promote the habit of checking for worn or faulty items that hold the potential for leaving a rider stranded. The legal requirements of permits, insurance and helmets are also checked and anyone without the appropriate material will not be allowed to go.  While on the trail, the students will be presented with a mock snowmobile collision.

• From start to finish, the students will be tasked with managing the   collision scene, notification of appropriate authorities and rendering comprehensive first aid. Once the victims are transported to safety, the group will continue on their trail ride to the luncheon site.

• Following the lunch the students will be presented with an ice water rescue demonstration and be provided with the opportunity to attempt to pull a volunteer fire fighter out of the icy water. This demonstration will offer support to the in-class discussion on thin icy safety. BaySAR personnel will demonstrate the method used to signal air rescue support and paraphernalia available to minimize search and rescue emergencies.  This afternoon concludes with a ride back to the school. A short debriefing session is planned to record the student's impressions of the event.

• This program offers practical experiences for students and the opportunity for them to interact with community members who share their interest in snow machine operation while demonstrating commitment to safety. On the ride portion of the program, uniform officers demonstrate responsible machine operation and have an opportunity to share their experiences and expertise with students.

• A multi-media campaign on snowmobile safety sponsored by the North Bay Focus will run through January and February 2002. The campaign will include both television and radio coverage.