If good equipment, helmets, and common sense is applied, the risks of snowmobiling can be minimal.

Snowmobiling remains popular for one that is seeking a fun recreational activity, or a multipurpose form of winter transportation. But it also continues to top the list of winter's most lethal sports.

According to a study released in 2003 by the Canadian Institute for Health Information, 16% of severe sports and recreational injuries in Canada in 2000/2001 involved snowmobiles. That ranks second only to cycling (18%).

Most of those injured on snowmobiles were men in their early 30s. And of the 92 people admitted to hospital with snowmobile injuries, fully one quarter had drunk alcohol or taken drugs before heading out into the snow. Also, many were not wearing snowmobile helmets.

"The risk of serious injury can be significantly reduced by not consuming alcohol prior to snowmobiling, or prior to participating in any winter sports," says Dr. Robert Conn, President and CEO of SMARTRISK. "People need to realize that by riding a snowmobile without a helmet or after they have been drinking, they are taking a huge risk which can have tragic consequences."

Snowmobile help is readily available at sports centers and online. Use your browser to find online sources or snowmobile helmets because a click of your mouse could make the difference between having fun and having no life at all.

It is extremely important to check your snowmobile parts to make sure that they are in working condition. There are now online sites where you can purchase snowmobile parts to maintain your machine in tip top condition.

A defective part cannot only ruin your snowmobile, but it can cause a serious and sometimes fatal accident. It is vital to note that any sport or recreation that involves complicated machinery (such as a snowmobile or a motorcycle) requires constant care to maintain that machine in good and safe running order. 

-Maple Bay Marine