By Eugene Shapiro, M.D.
Wintertime fun, like sledding, ice skating or building a snowman, is a great way for children to get the exercise they need and an effective approach to combatting boredom, or what some call, “cabin fever.”
But low temperatures can lead to dangerous conditions for children, and because their bodies are smaller, children are more at risk from the cold than adults.
In addition, certain winter sports can also pose a risk to children.
You can keep your kids safe and warm this winter by making sure they’re dressed appropriately for the cold and taking precautions to avoid accidents.
Layer Up to Stay Warm and Dry
Hypothermia and frostbite are among the biggest health threats associated with winter weather.
Hypothermia develops when a child’s temperature falls below normal in extreme cold. It often happens if the child isn’t wearing proper clothing or if clothing is wet. Hypothermia sets in more quickly in children than adults.
Frostbite occurs when the skin, and sometimes the tissue below it, freezes. Extremities like fingers, toes, ears and nose are vulnerable.
You can protect your children against hypothermia and frostbite by:
- Dressing them in several layers of clothing to keep them warm and dry.
- Avoiding cotton clothing, which traps moisture.
- Making sure their outer layers – like coats and snowsuits – are waterproof.
- Adding warm, waterproof boots.
- Making sure they are wearing a warm hat, scarf or neck warmer, and mittens. Mittens are better than gloves at keeping hands warm because they keep fingers close together.
Before kids head outside, remind them to come inside if they get wet or if they’re cold. They may resist. After all, playing in the snow is fun. A good rule of thumb is, if the temperature is 20-30 degrees, your child should come inside after 30 minutes of play or if their clothes are wet.
Be Safe on the Ice and Snow
Winter sports, from skiing and snowboarding to ice skating and sledding, can be great fun for children, but they can also be dangerous, especially without proper precautions.
With certain sports like skiing and snowboarding, it is important that children receive lessons from a qualified instructor before hitting the slopes. Additionally, children should wear the right safety equipment for the sport.
Remember to keep your kids hydrated. In drier winter air we lose water through our breath. Offer plenty to drink, and hot chocolate or soup as a special treat.
And don’t forget the sunscreen! Sunburns can occur just as easily on a snow-covered mountain as they can on a sandy beach. In fact, snow reflects 80% of the sun’s UV rays, making sunscreen a wintertime necessity,
For specific sports, the American Academy of Pediatrics offers the following safety tips:
Sledding
- Even when roads are closed to traffic, it’s not safe to play or sled in the street.
- Keep young children separated from older children.
- Use steerable sleds, not snow disks or inner tubes.
- Sleds should be structurally sound and free of sharp edges and splinters.
- The steering mechanism should be well lubricated.
- Sled slopes should be free of obstructions like trees or fences.
Ice Skating
- Never let a child ice skate alone.
- Advise your child to skate in the same direction as the crowd.
- No chewing gum or eating while on the ice.
- In addition to a helmet and kneepads consider elbow pads, especially while your child is learning to skate.
Skiing and Snowboarding
- Never ski or snowboard alone.
- Young children should always be supervised by an adult.
- Slopes should fit the ability and experience of the child.
- Avoid crowded slopes and skiing in areas with trees and other obstacles.
Snowmobiling
- Children under the age of 16 should not operate a snowmobile, and children under the age of 6 should stay off a snowmobile entirely.
- Do not use a snowmobile to pull a sled or skiers.
- Wear goggles and a safely helmet approved for use on motorized vehicles like motorcycles.
- Travel at safe speeds.
- Never snowmobile alone or at night.
While it’s important to be cautious, accidents do happen. In the unfortunate event that your child sustains a head and neck injury, keep them still and avoid moving the head and neck. Call 911. Keep their helmet on and don’t remove it or move them until a medical professional arrives.
Keep Colds and Flu at Bay
Children suffer more colds than adults in part because of their immature immune systems and their close proximity to other kids, especially when winter weather keeps them indoors.
In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health, it’s normal for children to catch six to ten colds a year.
Children are also susceptible to the flu and the complications the respiratory virus can cause, including croup, pneumonia and bronchiolitis.
The best way to prevent the flu is with the annual flu vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all children over the age of six months receive the flu vaccine annually.
Other ways to guard against colds and flu and prevent their spread include:
- Washing your hands. Kids – and adults – should wash their hands regularly using warm, soapy water. A good rule of the thumb is to wash your hands for as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” two times. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based rub.
- Disinfecting toys and common areas of the house. Germs can live on toys, door handles, counter tops and other areas for up to three hours. Cleaning and disinfecting regularly can kill germs and prevent their spread.
- Avoiding sharing utensils and drinking out of someone else’s cup.
- Teaching kids to sneeze and cough into their elbow rather than their hands, and to dispose of used tissues in the toilet.
- Avoiding touching your face, including your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Staying healthy by eating a nutritious diet rich in fruits and getting enough sleep. In general, children need between 10 and 12 hours of sleep a night.
To find a physician with Penn Medicine Princeton Health call 888-742-7496 or visit www.princetonhcs.org.
Eugene Shapiro, M.D. is board certified in pediatrics and a member of the medical staff at Penn Medicine Princeton Health.