Snow-filled fun - Winter health hazards - Pictures - CBS News Dashing through the snow can culminate with a night in the emergency room, as can racing down the black diamond ski slope and trying out the triple lutz at your local ice-skating rink. Winter sports are fun but they can also lead to sprains, pulled muscles, broken bones, concussions and spinal injury that can result in paralysis. According the National Ski Areas Association, approximately 42 people die each year in skiing or snowboarding accidents. A study in the journal Pediatrics found that an estimated 229,000 children a year sustain sledding accidents that require a trip to the ER. Avoid injury and unnecessary medical bills by not sledding or skiing on trails with trees. Wear protective gear, especially helmets. And as much as it may pain the daredevil in you, try to take it easy and go slow.