Every time a winter storm comes through and coats the ground with snow, it is almost certain that Robert Frost Middle School will bring hundreds of people to the sledding hill. But do these people know the dangers of sledding at Frost?
The Frost sledding hill is what students think to be the best hill to sled on in the area due to its size, steepness and accessibility. People from all ages across different schools all go to Frost looking for a good way to spend their snow day. “Being with your friends and hanging out with others while sledding is the best part about Frost,” senior Charlie Balian said.
Senior Luke Brunner and Balian were sledding at Frost hill until they both got injured. Balian broke his collarbone while Brunner pulled his bicep due to them going on a jump with their friends at the same time. “I was hit by many different people, one of them took me out by the legs and I fell on my shoulder then my face fell first into the snow,” Balian said.
One of the biggest problems with sledding at Frost is there are no warnings, regulations, or a thought that sledding at this hill can be dangerous. Sledding seems like a low-risk activity when in fact there are many injuries that occur. Research from Nationwide Children’s Hospital shows the number of injuries that occurred from 2008 to 2017. “220,488 patients were treated in U.S. emergency departments for injuries related to sledding,” Nationwide Children’s Hospital said.
Brunner was aware that there could be a possibility he would get hurt if he were to do something risky. “I knew there was a possibility that I could get hurt but only if I hit a jump,” Brunner said.
Others have never gone to Frost during a snow day due to what they hear about the hill. Junior Caroline Min has never been to Frost because she believes it is too dangerous and she is afraid that she will get injured. “I do not want to drive when it is icy out and people tell me it gets too crowded there,” Min said.
When Brunner had arrived at the hill, he was not intimidated and did not anticipate getting injured that day. He had heard about people getting injured from skiing and snowboarding but did not think that sledding could be equally as dangerous. “I was only intimidated when I was younger but I am not anymore because I am a lot smarter and bigger now,” Brunner said.
Brunner and Balian have since recovered. Even though it could have been a much worse situation, Brunner is looking forward to having fun in the snow, but at a safer level. “I would go back to sled there again but I would be more smart and would not get on someone else’s sled,” Brunner said.
Differently from Brunner, Balian thinks otherwise, he thinks that the hill is too dangerous and is too risky for him. As he has a history with getting into accidents, he has begun to think that he should take a break from sledding at Frost. “I do not plan on returning to Frost hill, I am a senior, and I believe that it will lead to nothing but injury. I will never attend another sledding meet up again on that hill,” Balian said.
