Jeep(R) Gets in on the Action at the 2007 Winter X Games and Launches the Jeep Safe Way to Play Campaign
* Jeep teams up with Dr. John R. Tongue of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and professional snowboarder Stacy Thomas to provide important winter sports safety messages
* Nearly 400,000 sledding, skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling injuries reported annually
ASPEN, Colo., Jan. 25 -- With millions of people planning to watch the athletes at this year's Winter X Games perform bold and daring stunts, the Jeep(R) brand is launching the Jeep Safe Way to Play campaign to communicate important safety messages to consumers before they head to the slopes and try to imitate what they've seen on television.
To help get the word out, Jeep has partnered with Dr. John R. Tongue, fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and professional snowboarder Stacy Thomas to spread awareness of winter sports safety measures that can often reduce the chance of injuries and keep everyone safe.
"More than 12 million Americans will take advantage of the winter season and spend time outdoors sledding, skiing, snowboarding or snowmobiling this year," said Dr. Tongue. "Of those, nearly 400,000 -- or approximately one out of every 30 -- Americans will sustain a winter sports-related injury.
"Our goal is to make sure consumers embodying the adventurous Jeep motto, 'go anywhere, do anything,' are acting in a safe and intelligent manner whether they're on the slopes or in their own backyard.
"A proud sponsor of the Winter X Games since 2002, Jeep has been dedicated to safety and outdoor action sports for more than 66 years. The Jeep Safe Way to Play campaign combines Jeep's commitment to safety and adventure in an effort to ensure that the same attention to safety designed into every Jeep vehicle is carried over to sledding, skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling.
Jeep Tips to Play By
As part of the Jeep Safe Way to Play campaign, Dr. Tongue and Thomas encourage consumers to follow these important safety tips as they head outdoors this season:
General Winter Sport Safety Tips
* Protect your noggin: Children 12 years and younger should wear helmets
when sledding, skiing or snowboarding and everyone should wear a helmet
when snowmobiling to prevent head injuries. The most serious sledding
injuries and most common skiing injuries result from collisions with
fixed objects, such as rocks or trees. Wearing a helmet can help reduce
the seriousness of these injuries.
* Use the buddy system: Never participate in winter sports alone. Always
select a partner and be sure to stay together when playing outdoors.
* Dress for success: It is important to choose proper clothing when
heading outside. Wear layers of light, loose, and water and wind-
resistant clothing. The water-resistant outer layers will help keep
participants dry when they fall and the layers will accommodate the
body's changing temperature. Bright colored clothing is the best
because it can be seen at a great distance.
Sledding Tips
* Ride in style: The safest way to ride a sled is to sit in a forward-
facing, feet first position. To decrease the chance of injury, avoid
sledding downhill head first.
* Think with your head when choosing a sled: Avoid sleds that are made
out of thin plastic sheets. They can be pierced and steered by sharp
objects that may be buried in the sledding path. The safest sleds are
equipped with runners and a steering mechanism.
* Supervise your children: The majority of sledding injuries occur in
the areas at the end of a sledding path. Adult supervision is needed to
ensure that children sledding down the hill do not collide with other
children at the end of the path.
Skiing/Snowboarding Tips
* Fall like a pro: Learning how to fall is just as important as learning
how to ski or snowboard. Whenever possible, skiers and snowboarders
should fall forward or sideways instead of backwards to decrease the
chance of a serious knee injury.
* Watch the weather: Skiers and snowboarders should keep a look out for
icy patches and be prepared to make adjustments for ice, deep powder
snow and wet snow while on the slope. As snow gets packed down and
turns firm, skiing and snowboarding becomes more difficult and runs
down the hill become quicker.
* Don't start cold: At the start of each new day, skiers and
snowboarders should take a couple of slow runs to warm up their bodies
and become familiar with the slopes.
Snowmobiling Tips
* Drive on the right side: When traveling on snowmobile trails always
stay to the right - just like driving on the road - and always slow
down at the top of a hill, cliff or snow bank to help prevent
collisions with oncoming snowmobiles or unforeseen objects.
* Use designated hand signals: It is often difficult to hear over the
noise of snowmobiles, so keep the lines of communication open with hand
signals. Before heading out with a group, identify hand signals that
can be used to tell others when to speed up, slow down, stop,
turnaround, etc.
* Leave a note: Before departing on a snowmobile trip, always leave a
note describing where you're going, who you're with, when you plan to
return, and what equipment you have with you. Leave the note with a
friend, at the front desk at a hotel or with someone who will notice if
you do not return in a timely manner.
Driving Tips
* Drive slowly: When driving in the snow, do everything slowly. Even
when driving vehicles that are equipped with the newest safety
features, like the traction control system and electronic stability
program that come standard on all Jeep vehicles, drivers should
accelerate, turn and break slowly and gently.
* Watch for ice: Be aware of potential icy areas such as shady spots and
bridges. Even if it's blue skies and sunny, it's still icy on bridges
and in the shade throughout the winter months.
* First Aid Kit: You should keep first aid items (bandages, aspirin, and
wraps) in your vehicle in case someone gets injured on their way to or
from winter sporting activities.
"The Jeep brand has a full-line of 4x4 vehicles designed to get families to and from their destinations safely this season," said John Plecha, Director - Jeep Brand Marketing and Global Communications. "Through the Jeep Safe Way to Play campaign, we hope to make sure that drivers and families are just as safe on the slopes and sledding hills as they are in all seven Jeep brand vehicles."
About Dr. John R. Tongue
An orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine, trauma/fractures and arthroscopic surgery, Dr. Tongue is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He has co-authored a study on "The Hidden Dangers of Winter Sliding" and has contributed to such varied media outlets as the Associated Press, New York Times, Seattle Times and Pittsburg Post-Gazette.
About the Jeep Brand
The Jeep brand's 66-year history of legendary capability has made it synonymous with freedom, adventure, mastery and authenticity. In 2007, the Jeep brand delivers on its promise to provide rugged, versatile, innovative four-wheel drive vehicles with seven vehicles that will "go anywhere and do anything, including the all-new Jeep Patriot, Compass, Liberty, Wrangler, Wrangler Unlimited, Grand Cherokee and Commander.
