Parents need to take precautions when kids play in the bitter cold

Published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Jan. 21, 2010

Winter has definitely arrived. Freezing temperatures and even colder wind chill factors make most adults want to stay inside and hibernate. On the other hand, children like to get out and explore, especially on snowy days.

Before sending your children out into the cold, make sure to take extra precautions:

• Layer clothing – Make sure your child is dressed in warm layers. Multiple layers are better at preventing hypothermia than one large snowsuit, because if one layer gets wet, the other layers will delay the moisture from getting to the skin.
• Cover head to toe – Hats, gloves, scarves, warm socks and boots are a must to keep your child as warm as possible.
• Check wind chill factor – When deciding if it is too cold to go outside take into account both the temperature reading and the wind chill factor. When wind chill factors are below zero, skin can freeze in a matter of minutes.
• Set time limits – After checking out the temperature, set reasonable time limits for outside playtime. Lure the kids to come inside to take breaks by offering hot cocoa or a warm blanket. Make sure they know that shivering is a sign they need to warm up.
• Watch for frostbite – Frostbite can occur if your child stays outside too long on a cold day. Frostbite happens more often on extremities such as the nose, ears, fingers and toes. It has a pale, gray and blistery look and might feel numb. If you notice any of these symptoms, bring the child inside and warm the skin with a warm washcloth or skin-to-skin contact by holding the affected area against warm skin. Do not rub or massage the skin; it can cause more damage. If symptoms last more than a few minutes, call your doctor.
• Use sunscreen - Even though it is cold outside, any exposed skin should be covered with sunscreen to prevent sunburn. Winter sunburns can happen, especially when the sun reflects off snow.

When you have your child properly prepared for the weather, make sure to know where your children will be playing and that they are supervised.

Finally, parents who worry that children can get sick by playing out in the cold can relax. It isn’t necessarily true. Colds are caused by viral infections that are spread through close contact with others, which can happen just as easily inside.

If you take precautions to ensure your children are properly prepared for the elements, kids can safely enjoy bring outdoors in the winter.

Dr. Joseph Kahn, chair of St. John’s Mercy Children’s Hospital, is a practicing community pediatrician and has served St. Louis families for over 25 years. For information about the St. John’s Mercy Children’s Hospital visit www.stjohnsmercychildrenshospital.org or call 314-364-3825.