Be Winter Ready: Safety Tips for Cold Weather

Winter is here and the temperature continues to drop. Here are some recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics to stay healthy and safe this winter:

What to Wear

Dress infants in several thin layers, which will help them stay dry and warm. A good rule of thumb for older kids is one more layer than an adult would wear. Wearing thin, snug layers makes it easier for riding in the car seat and booster.

Playing Outdoors

Set a reasonable time for outdoor play to prevent hypothermia and frostbite. Have children come in periodically to warm up and so you can assess how cold they have gotten.

Specific Recommendations for Outdoor Fun:

Ice-Skating:

Allow ice skating only on approved surfaces. Advise your child to skate in the same direction as the others, to avoid darting across the ice, to never skate alone, not to chew candy or gum while skating, and consider wearing a helmet if they are just learning how to skate.

Sledding Tips:

When sledding, keep children away from cars and always supervise them. Separate younger children from older or larger sledders and encourage sledding feet-first or while sitting up. Helmets should be worn for safety. Choose slopes that are free of obstacles like trees or fences, covered in snow rather than ice, not too steep (less than 30 degrees), and ending with a flat surface.

Skiing and Snowboarding:

When skiing or snowboarding, never go alone. Children should always be supervised by an adult and wear a helmet for safety. Avoid areas with trees or other obstacles to reduce the risk of injury.

Snowmobiles:

The AAP advises that children under 16 should not operate snowmobiles, and children under six should never ride on them. Snowmobiles should not be used to pull sleds or skiers. Riders should always wear goggles and a safety helmet, travel at safe speeds, and stick to marked trails.

References:

Playing Outside in Winter: Tips to Keep Kids Warm & Safe - Healthy-Children.org

Cold Weather Safety for Children: Preventing Frostbite & Hypothermia - HealthyChildren.org