[edit] Winter Safety Suggestions

Here are some tips to keep in mind while your family is enjoying the great outdoors during the winter season.

• Check the weather report and heed precautions and advisories. If weather warnings suggest a severe wind chill or extremely low temperatures, consider avoiding outdoor activities until the weather improves.
• Drive Carefully - be prepared - see Winter Driving Tips.
• Be aware of avalanche warnings also.
• Be aware of symptoms and treatment for hypothermia, snow blindness and frostbite.
• See specific sections of this page for safety tips on winter activities.
• Practice Sun Safety.
• Remember First Aid Tips including a first aid supplies.
• Dress in layers. It is very important to keep warm and dry while enjoying outdoor activities in the winter. See Winter Holidays - Ski Vacations for tips on keeping warm and dry while enjoying winter activities.
• When not wearing a helmet, wear a hat, and a neck guard. Keep ears covered too. Noses can be covered with neck guard.
• Click on the coat to view travel news about the danger of drawstrings on children's outerwear.
• Make sure that clothes is comfortable. Tight clothing restrict circulation and can increase changes of frostbite.
• Wear brightly coloured clothing - easier to be seen.
• Take extra care when dusk or evening approaches as a result of reduced visibility.
• Goggles that provide Sun Safety can also protect eyes from cold, wind and snow.
• Remove all drawstrings from children's snow suits and avoid use of scarves to reduce the risk of strangulation.
• Don't overdo activities.
• Try to maintain healthy eating and sleeping habits.
• Avoid alcohol, tobacco, drugs and consider reducing caffeine consumption.
• Take some time to relax and give children some "down time" as well.
• Have children (and adults) where helmets designed for the activity if it involves a risk of head injury or required by law - see helmets
• Teach children never to touch metal during cold temperatures.
• Children should be taught never to throw snow at other people. Snowballs can contain ice chunks or stones that can cause harm including damage to eyes.
• Never bury anyone in snow as there is a risk of suffocation and teach children never to make tunnels in the snow.
• Don't let children eat snow. Even white snow can contain pollutants from the air, including trace minerals like mercury. Snow can also contain windblown soils that can include animal fecal matter.
• Teach children to never venture onto ice, ponds or lakes without an adult first checking the ice.
• Children should never play on snow piles near parking lots or on the road side. Make sure children never go near snow plows or areas being plowed.

[edit] Tips About Hypothermia

Avoid the risks of hypothermia by following the Winter Safety Suggestions.

• Hypothermia results from exposure to low temperatures, wind and moisture over a period of time. It can occur on the ski hill, in a car, falling in water that is cold or anywhere else where these factors exist that cause the body temperature to falls below normal. As a parent you need to be aware of the causes and symptoms of hypothermia in children as well as other adults and know what to do when you suspect hypothermia. For older children and teenagers, it is also important educate them. When conditions exist to pose a risk of hypothermia be observant and seek medical attention immediately if you suspect or observe any symptoms which can include:

• Complaints about being cold and irritability.
• Uncontrollable shivering
• Impaired or slurred speech or vision
• Clumsy movements
• Blurred vision.
• Severe symptoms can include stiff muscles, dark and puffy skin, irregular heart and breathing rates and unconsciousness.

If you notice any of the above symptoms, you should get the person to a warm, dry place as soon as possible, remove any wet clothing and seek medical attention IMMEDIATELY. NEVER RUB THE SKIN. Bundling in a blanket will help keep heat in. An always soothing parent/child cuddle will help warm up the child and also bring comfort to both.