• Be aware of the cold temperatures and slippery surfaces those frigid temperatures can produce on the ski slopes
• Always wear proper clothing and protective gear such as: helmets, goggles and padding, and make sure equipment is in good working order and used properly.
• Avoid cold muscles, tendons and ligaments they are more susceptible to injury. To avoid this, do some light exercises for at least 3 to 5 minutes, then slowly and gently stretch the muscles to be exercised, holding each stretch for at least 30 seconds
• When falling, try to fall on your side or buttocks. Roll over naturally, turning your head in the direction of the roll.
• Know and abide by all rules of the sport in which you are participating.
• Never ski, sled, ice skate, snowmobile or snowboard alone.
• Avoid participating in sports when experiencing pain or exhaustion.
• Take frequent water breaks to prevent dehydration and overheating.
• Become familiar with the whereabouts of fences, trees, rocks, open water and patches of ice.
• Stay on marked trails and avoid potential avalanche areas, such as steep hillsides with little vegetation.
• Be prepared for emergency situations and have a plan to reach medical personnel to treat injuries.
• Wear proper footwear that provides warmth and dryness, as well as ample ankle support.
• Pay attention to warnings about upcoming storms and severe drops in temperature to ensure safety.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2007:

• Snowboarding was the leading cause of winter sports injuries, sending 149,388 people to hospital emergency rooms, doctors’ offices, clinics and other medical settings.
• Skiing came in second with 131,454 injuries.
• Other sports and activities on the list include:
• Ice skating with 58,380 injuries
• Ice hockey with 47,594 injuries
• Sledding and tobogganing with 107,890 injuries
• Snowmobiling with 34,699 injuries

For more information go to www.orthoinfo.org

Source: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

SIRIUS XM’s holiday sports schedule includes college football and basketball, NFL post-season games, NBA, NHL and World Cup skiing

SIRIUS XM Radio announced  that it will offer listeners nationwide extensive coverage of college football’s post-season, with live play-by-play of 25 bowl games including the Bowl Championship Series, the Rose Bowl and the FedEx BCS National Championship game.

SIRIUS XM’s coverage will begin Saturday, December 20, when Navy plays Wake Forest in the EagleBank Bowl (11:00am ET on SIRIUS channel 122 and XM channel 144) and continues through Thursday, January 8, when the nation’s #1 team, the Oklahoma Sooners led by Heisman Trophy-winner Sam Bradford, face off against the #2 Florida Gators and 2007 Heisman-winner Tim Tebow in the FedEx BCS National Championship Game in Miami, FL (8:00pm ET on SIRIUS channel 120 and XM channel 140). A complete schedule of games and channels appears below.

Leading up to the national title game, SIRIUS XM personality Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo will host his daily show, Mad Dog Unleashed, live from Miami on Wednesday, January 7 (2:00-7:00pm ET) and Thursday, January 8 (2:00-7:00pm ET) on SIRIUS channel 123 and XM channel 144.

Additionally, every weekday morning (7:00-10:00am ET) throughout the college post-season, SIRIUS XM’s college sports talk show, Rivals Radio, hosted by Bill King, will air live on SIRIUS channel 122 and XM channel 144, covering all the latest news and results and previewing every bowl match-up.

Every Wednesday (10:00am-12:00pm ET) on SIRIUS channel 122 and XM channel 144, Jack Arute and Gary Danielson host The SIRIUS XM College Football Coaches Show, covering the world of college football and interviewing head coaches and players from around the nation.

SIRIUS XM’s College Bowl Game schedule: (All times ET)

EagleBank Bowl, Washington, DC – Navy vs. Wake Forest
December 20, 11:00 am, SIRIUS channel 122 / XM channel 144 (Navy feed)

New Mexico Bowl, Albuquerque, NM – Colorado St. vs. Fresno St.
December 20, 2:30pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)

St. Petersburg Bowl, St. Petersburg, FL – South Florida vs. Memphis
December 20, 4:30pm, SIRIUS channel 122 / XM channel 144 (ESPN Radio feed)

R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, New Orleans, LA – Troy vs. Southern Mississippi

December 21, 8:15pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, San Diego, CA – Boise St. vs. TCU

December 23, 8:00pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 144 (ESPN Radio feed)

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, Honolulu, HI – Notre Dame vs. Hawaii
December 24, 8:00pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)

Motor City Bowl, Detroit, MI – Florida Atlantic vs. Central Michigan
December 26, 7:30pm, SIRIUS channel 122 / XM channel 144 (TBC Sports feed)

Meineke Car Care Bowl, Charlotte, NC – North Carolina vs. West Virginia
December 27, 1:00pm, SIRIUS channel 122 / XM channel 144 (ISP feed)

Champs Sports Bowl, Orlando, FL – Wisconsin vs. Florida St.
December 27, 4:30pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)

Emerald Bowl, San Francisco, CA – California vs. Miami
December 27, 8:00pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)

PapaJohns.com Bowl, Birmingham, AL – Rutgers vs. NC State
December 29, 3:00pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)

Valero Alamo Bowl, San Antonio, TX – Missouri vs. Northwestern
December 29, 8:00pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)

Pacific Life Holiday Bowl, San Diego, CA – Oklahoma St. vs. Oregon
December 30, 8:00pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, Fort Worth, TX – Air Force vs. Houston

December 31, 12:00pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)

Chick-fil-A Bowl, Atlanta, GA – LSU vs. Georgia Tech
December 31, 7:30pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)

Outback Bowl, Tampa, FL – Iowa vs. South Carolina
January 1, 11:00am, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)

Konica Minolta Gator Bowl, Jacksonville, FL – Clemson vs. Nebraska

January 1, 1:00pm, SIRIUS channel 122 / XM channel 144 (TD Radio/Sports Byline feed)

Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA – Penn State vs. USC
January 1, 4:30pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)

FedEx Orange Bowl, Miami, FL – Virginia Tech. vs. Cincinnati
January 1, 8:30pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)

AT&T Cotton Bowl, Dallas, TX – Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss
January 2, 2:00pm, SIRIUS channel 122 / XM channel 144 (Texas tech feed)

AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Memphis, TN – Kentucky vs. E. Carolina
January 2, 5:00pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)

Allstate Sugar Bowl, New Orleans, LA – Utah vs. Alabama
January 2, 8:00pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)

International Bowl, Toronto, Canada – Buffalo vs. Connecticut
January 3, 12:00pm, SIRIUS channel 122 / XM channel 144 (TBC Sports feed)

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, Glendale, AZ – Texas vs. Ohio St.
January 5, 8:00pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)

FedEx BCS National Championship Game, Miami, FL – Oklahoma vs. Florida
January 8, 8:00pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)

XM acquired the rights to broadcast the FedEx BCS National Championship Game, the FedEx Orange Bowl, the Allstate Sugar Bowl and the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in a multi-year agreement with FOX Sports.

Throughout the holiday season, SIRIUS XM offers sports fans more coverage than any other radio outlet. SIRIUS XM listeners can tune in to every live NFL post-season game, plus NBA and NHL games, college football and basketball games and World Cup alpine skiing events from around the globe. In addition to play-by-play, listeners can hear engaging sports talk on several exclusive channels including SIRIUS NFL Radio, MLB Home Plate, SIRIUS NASCAR Radio, NHL Home Ice, Mad Dog Radio, The PGA Tour Network and more.

For game schedules and channel listings, please visit www.sirius.com or www.xmradio.com.