Safety and prevention

Winter safety

Skating, sledding, skiing, building snowmen. Our fondest memories of winter are often outside activities involving snow and ice. Make sure your children enjoy this winter and stay safe. Protective clothing, well-maintained sporting equipment and learning basic safety measures are the best insurance against accidents and frostbite.

Frostbite prevention and treatment

Sledding
Sledding is an old-time favorite for children, but the combination of speed and ice can quickly turn a thrilling slide down a hill into a disaster. To keep excitement up and danger down, practice safe sledding.

• Make sure a responsible adult is supervising.
• Have your children wear their bicycle helmets while sledding. Many head injuries occur when children ride sleds belly down, head first.
• Outfit your children in warm clothing with special attention to hands and feet. Boots and gloves should be made of durable material that will protect your child from cuts and abrasions if they fall off their sleds and tumble along an icy hill.
• Plastic tubes, disks and flyers can be dangerously fast for small children. Steerable, wooden sleds offer more control and less speed and are recommended for preteens.
• Teach your child how to stop a sled by dragging feet or making a sharp turn. Discourage them from stopping a sled by steering into a snowbank since snow could be hiding dangers such as sharp rocks or branches. Teach your child to avoid danger by rolling off a sled that's sliding out of control.
• Make sure your child's sledding location is a safe one – free of car traffic, walls and trees. There should be no rocky ledges, steep falls or water traps that could result in a cold dunking or a high-speed, out-of-control ride.
• Never allow your child to hitch a sled to a moving vehicle of any kind.

Frostbite prevention
Frostbite is always a danger when children play for long periods in very cold weather. Children are at greater risk of frostbite both because they lose heat from their skin more quickly than adults and because they may not want to leave their winter games to go inside and warm up. These simple tips will help protect your child from frostbite.

• Dress your child in layers. If you live in a cold climate, three layers are best. Clothing such as thermal underwear, cotton socks and mitten liners help keep moisture away from the body. Next to that, dress your child in loosely woven clothing such as sweatsuits, pants and sweaters to trap heat. The third layer should be tightly woven materials to keep out moisture and wind such as waterproof boots, pants, jackets, mittens and hats.
• Outdoor clothing shouldn't be tight or restrict movement. Nothing that interferes with blood circulation such as tight shoes should be worn in cold weather.
• Young children should be checked every half hour. If they get wet, bring them inside and have them change into something dry before allowing them outside again.

Frostnip treatment
If your child has been playing outside in cold weather, watch for frostnip. It usually affects the nose, ears, fingers and toes. If these areas become colorless and numb, bring in the child immediately.

• Remove any wet clothing
• Put any affected areas in lukewarm water, approximately 105° F until the numbness goes away.

In case of frostbite
Frostbitten skin is cold and hard. The affected skin may be waxy white, blue or yellowish. Your child may report the area feels numb or has a tingling sensation.

• Bring the child inside immediately, dress him or her in warm clothing and bring them to the nearest hospital emergency room. If the child's feet are affected, carry him.
• If you are not able to bring the child to the hospital immediately, proceed with the following:
• Give him a warm drink. Do not give him an alcoholic beverage which constricts blood circulation further.
• Apply warm compresses to the affected areas. Do not rub. Frostbitten skin is very fragile. Just gently apply a warm cloth to the area for about 30 minutes. If warm water is not available, wrap your child in warm blankets.
• As the skin thaws, it may blister and swell. Cover blisters with clean bandages.

• YNHH Health Library: Safety and Injury Prevention

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Reviewed: Robert LaCamera, MD
Last revised: June 4, 2007 (dh)

Home page URL: http://www.ynhh.org

All information is intended for your general knowledge and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness regimen.