Hills + snow = irresistible sledding opportunities.

And sometimes there’s no better recipe for pleasure than a hill of fresh snow and a sled to ride it down on.

It’s a winter treat that is universally loved. But these days, one that is also causing concern for parents, as well as the occasional ban by cities when they get sued after accidents happen.

Dubuque, Iowa, is the latest city whose city council voted to ban sledding in all but two of its city parks.

Thousands of children in the United States are treated for sled-related injuries each year, and it appears that lawsuits are the big reason cities are worried and, as a result, are banning sledding, as they can cost cash-strapped municipalities millions.

Yet there is a good way to reduce the risk of head injuries from this popular pastime: simply wear a helmet for sledding.

Dr. Joseph Guettler, an orthopedic surgeon in Bingham Farms in Michigan, recommends that all young children wear a fitted helmet for sledding.

To some people, putting a helmet on a youngster for sliding down a hill on a plastic saucer sled might seem like…well, overly safety-conscious.

In truth, it’s more of a common sense move. If you wear a helmet for biking or other fast-moving sports, it stands to reason that the helmet is a risk-reducer to speedy sledding or toboggan riding.

And actually there are two really good reasons to wear a helmet for sledding. The first is, yes, to reduce the risk of a head injury – science is rapidly discovering how little it takes for brains to receive concussions from unexpected knocks to the head.

The second equally good reason to wear a Nutcase helmet for sledding is this: it keeps your head warm.

Add a pair of super-soft ear pads to your Little Nutty helmet and it’s easily a great, insulating head warmer.

Of course, we also have snow helmets to fit most heads out there.