Safety Tips for Curling
Pre-Game

• Wear appropriate gear – Make sure you are using gear that fits well and in good condition. It will improve your comfort on the ice, as well your safety.
• Dress warmly and in layers to prevent becoming too cold or overheated.
• A slip-on slider or a gripper that is not sized properly has the potential to come off; similarly worn out items like an old gripper can also not function as well, all potentially causing a fall.
• Use double grippers when sweeping for greater stability.
• Allow time to stretch and warm up before the game to reduce the risk of strain or stretch injuries.
• Don’t go on the ice until your sheet is ready or until you have permission.
• Before you step out on the ice, be aware of the sheets being used and possible situations that can arise, such as people moving on the ice or stray rocks from adjacent sheets.
• Safety head gear is optional, but highly recommended.  The Club does have safety helmets for you to use.
• Use the shoe cleaner provided to clean your street shoes when you come into the Club.  Debris left on lobby floor can easily attach to your curling shoes.  Never wear street shoes on the ice.
• It is important to step on to the sticky mat when entering the ice area to make sure your shoes are clean.  Little particles of dirt can make the ice surface dangerous. The running of curling stones is also affected by dirt and "picks" can result, where the stone turns abruptly from the intended target and quickly stops.
• Your brush head collects dirt every game, you should brush it regularly to keep it clean. A small fingernail brush works well. You can also wash them.
• Remove your cell phone from your pocket and do not take on ice.  A fall could result in your phone being damaged.

 
On the Ice

• Your slider foot should always be LAST ON and FIRST OFF – Falls are most common when curlers are stepping on or off the ice. Always step on the ice with your gripper foot first, always step off the ice with your slider foot first.
• Cool your shoes on the ice sidelines before you take a practice slide or getting ready to deliver your rock.  Warm shoes and sliders wear down the ice pebble.
• DO NOT KNEEL OR REST YOUR HANDS ON THE ICE AFTER YOU DELIVER A ROCK - stand up immediately. Body heat causes depressions in the ice which can negatively affect the path of curling stones.
• Exercise caution while moving around the ice – Ice is very slippery.
• Walk on the ice, don’t run as there’s more of a potential to slip or for your gripper to slip off if you do.
• Use your broom for balance to help you get on and off the ice, as well as getting up from the slide position. We also recommend using it as you move around the ice with the brush head touching the ice surface in order to help provide greater balance.
• Brooms should be used appropriately, and not swung around or used in child’s play (using it as a sword, pushing people with it, etc.)
• Wait until your skip and sweepers are ready before throwing the rock.
• When pushing the stones to the parking area after an end has been completed, make sure that no-one is in the way. Park the stone gently. To move a stone, use your feet, or preferably your broom to ease the stone properly to the required place.
• Never stop a rock with your hand. Your fingers can be crushed, especially if the rock hits another rock while you're trying to stop it.
• Be aware of where the rocks and equipment are – Another common cause of falls are tripping on rocks or other curling paraphernalia.
• Do not leave equipment laying around on the playing surface or in a place where other players on the ice could trip on it. Grippers and extra brooms should be left on the back boards out of the way of people walking.
• Do not leave your grippers, gloves, and other equipment on the floor behind the hack where players are walking.

 
On the Ice, continued
 

• Do not leave your brushes, crutches & sticks leaning against a pillar or resting bench; in the way of players walking.  Move the equipment in front of and/or behind the pillar/bench, parallel to the playing surface.  That way, no one ever trips over a brush, throwing stick or crutch. It is so easy to do - just a momentary distraction and down you go.
• Walk down the side of the sheet if you aren’t sweeping to avoid the other team’s rocks travelling down the sheet.
• Don’t shoot the rock too hard. Forty-two pounds of moving granite has enough energy to take someone out easily, even if moving slowly.

• Don’t let the rock go flying into the hack. Rocks removing the hacks not only damages the hacks and the ice, but also can create other potential safety hazards.
• Don’t try and keep up with a fast-moving rock. If you find it difficult to keep up with a fast rock, then STOP! Avoid the potential fall. Sweeping doesn’t impact fast rocks very much anyway.  Never try and stop a fast-moving rock with your body, use your broom.
• Catch rocks before they go on other sheets or knock someone over.
• Curling rocks should never be carried or lifted. Always push the stone to where you want it to go.  Lifted stones that are dropped or whose handles break have the potential to cause broken bones if they fall on someone or severe damage to the ice.
• Play sober and healthy – If you’re not feeling well, have an injury or have had a few too many drinks, you’re much more likely to either lose your balance or make an already existing injury even worse

YOUR SAFETY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US!!!