Tubing is a dangerous pastime! In Belarus, more than 200 injuries from tubing, sleds, and sledding have been recorded since the start of the 2025/2026 winter season. A significant number of children have been among the victims, many of whom were taken to specialized neurology and neurosurgery, traumatology, and orthopedic centers due to serious injuries. The Belarusian Ministry of Health is sounding the alarm, highlighting the high speed and uncontrollability of tubing, which often leads to serious consequences, including fractures, bruises, and traumatic brain injuries. It calls for increased supervision of children. Most tubing injuries occur due to failure to follow safety rules. Here's what you need to know when choosing a tubing device and how to ride it properly. When choosing a tubing device, consider the load and determine its dimensions. The following tubing diameters are recommended: for children under 5 – 50–80 cm; for children up to 140 cm – 95–100 cm; for adults up to 175 cm – 110–115 cm; for adults taller than 175 cm – 120–150 cm. The heavier the person riding, the larger the tubing should be. The tubing instructions usually specify the permitted weight, which must not be exceeded for safe use. Pay attention to the material of the cover. It can be made of raincoat fabric or rubberized. The cover's function is to hold and protect the inner tube from swelling and bursting, so the rubberized version is more reliable and even more frost-resistant. The fabric at the bottom of the tubing should be thicker than at the top. Important! A tubing is an unsteerable sliding projectile without a steering wheel or brakes. It's impossible to predict its trajectory: while moving, it can rotate 360 degrees. When hurtling from a great height, a tubing can reach speeds of over 50 km/h. A person on a tube flying at high speed, unable to brake, can be compared to a car with failed brakes. Therefore, it's safest to ride on a designated track. Its construction takes into account the speed of the tube: the descent must have a counter-slope to allow the tube to turn and brake, and the track must be profiled along the entire length to ensure directional movement. If you decide to ride on an unequipped slope, carefully inspect it and the surrounding area. The hill should have a gentle slope (up to 20 degrees), and the finish area should be flat and wide, allowing the tube to gradually reduce speed using friction. There should be no obstacles along the path and on the descent, such as fences, poles, or trees, to prevent accidental collisions. Don't slide from the shore of a body of water—it's easy to slide onto the ice and fall into the water, even if the ice appears solid. Avoid nearby roads to avoid accidentally sliding onto them. It's impossible to ban tubing. Therefore, we remind you of the rules that are important to follow while tubing:Don't brake with your feet (high speeds can injure them); don't ride in a group, one behind another. Wait until the person has left the slope before moving. Otherwise, collisions and injuries are possible. At the end of the descent, try to leave the ski area as quickly as possible; use protective helmets (any kind will do, including bicycle helmets and roller skate helmets). It's especially important for children. Another very important rule for safe skating is adult supervision. Be attentive and careful! Teach children the rules of behavior to avoid the risk of injury! And most importantly, never leave children alone, unattended!
