Winter Safety Tips
Winter is a magical time. This is the time when you can make a snowman, watch the sled with bells driven by Santa, celebrate Christmas and New Year. Winter is the fragrance of Christmas trees, and sounds of holiday music. But winter also brings its dangers. And your holiday spirit does not mean that you can relax so much that you forget about safety!
All parents try their best to protect their children from all sorts of dangerous situations that may occur. And now, in the cold season, the potential dangers are growing. Children may not remember safety rules they learned last year, so it’s important to review them. The following tips will help keep children healthy and safe during the cold season.
Use sunscreen – protect your children’s skin from the harmful rays of the sun in winter too. The sun reflected off the snow and ice can be almost as harmful as direct sunrays.
Clothing: If you children go to school or for a walk, make sure that they are dressed warmly in several layers of clothing, which are wind and waterproof. Winter clothes should match the size of children and should not restrict movement.
Ice skating: always watch your child in the winter, especially when outside. Skating should be only on the ice that has been inspected for safety. Ice rinks are much safer than skating on a river, lake, or reservoir.
Sledding: Going down a snow-covered mountain on a sled is one of the greatest thrills, even for adults. Children love tobogganing, but it is important for them to know the basic rules of safety. Sledding down the hills that end on the road with moving traffic, hills with obstacles, jumping off a cliff, icy slopes, or sledding onto ice is unacceptable! Children should never tie the sled to moving vehicles of any kind. They should also know that you should not go down on a sled lying with your head downward. The safest sleds are those that can be led by a parent. If your kids want to try skiing or snowboarding, consider getting lessons from an instructor. On the slopes, they should always wear helmets and gloves and be accompanied by an adult.
Frostbite: parts that most suffer from frostbite are nose, ears, cheeks and fingers. Signs of frostbite include: itching, numbness, tingling, or burning. Affected skin may be white, red-rimmed, yellow or blue and is cool to the touch.
Hypothermia. Being outside and engaged in a game, children can lose track of time easily. Time limit in extreme cold for children under ten years of age may be no more than 30 minutes at a time. Take into account the wind, which contributes to the rapid cooling of the body. It can be very difficult for the children since playing in the snow can be so much fun. But children and the elderly are particularly susceptible to cold. Children’s bodies are not developed enough to be able to fight the effects of hypothermia.
Dehydration. Despite the fact that your children do not sweat as much as in summer, you must be aware of dehydration. The best choice for the winter is juice with low sugar content and lots of vitamin C.
Toys and equipment. Make sure that any equipment for outdoor play (sleds, skis, skates), whether new or old, is in good condition and fit for use before you send the children out with it. Damaged or broken things can very easily lead to injury.
