'The best time ever'

Nick Wright/Daily Mail , a snow princess, pretty in pink, graces the front yard of a home in the 600 block of South Ash, Nevada, while 5-year-old Josh Bellich heaves a snowball past the snowman he and family members had finished moments before at his home at 511 S. Ash.

Conditions were just right for sledding, building snowmen and snowball fights Thursday afternoon. Dozens of area residents gathered on a hill at Spring Street at the Nevada Country Club to join in the fun one woman described as "the best time ever. These kids are really having a great time. There's a whole bunch of them out there."

It's rare that Nevadans get the opportunity to sled, and there's no doubt kids and adults alike were enjoying the opportunity. Nevertheless, experts from the University of Missouri Extension office say there are a few tips to keep in mind when sledding.

Extension specialists say a recent "spate of injuries requiring emergency room care resulting from sledding accidents points to the need for parents to teach children some basic safety tips, said a University of Missouri safety specialist.

"Children ages five to nine are the most susceptible to sledding injuries. Parents should not let them sled alone," said Karen Funkenbusch.

More than 20,000 sledders must visit hospital emergency rooms for injuries each year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Parents should make sure the sledding path does not cross traffic and is free of hazards such as trees, fences, rocks, wire or bare spots, she said.

Do not sled around frozen lakes, streams or ponds.

The best place to sled is on a hill in a park.

Sledders should wear protective headgear, thick gloves or mittens and protective boots, she said.

Equipment ranges from toboggans to snow disks.

Sledding equipment is designed to be used either lying down or sitting upright. However, sledding headfirst greatly increases the risk of head injury.

John Bellich, 5, and Abby Bellich work on a snowman in their front yard at 511 S. Ash.

Never hitch sledding equipment behind a moving vehicle. The results can be deadly, she warned.

"Sledding is an activity that can be enjoyed by parents and children alike. But to keep your snow play safe, it is important to keep safety in mind," she said.