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Jayvontay Nazelrod was bundled in his stroller by his mother, Kimbra, while in downtown Hagerstown in January 2012. One way to keep children healthy during the winter is make sure they are dressed properly for the cold because infants and toddlers cannot control their body temperature as well as adults. (Herald-Mail file photo / January 4, 2013) |
From sledding and skiing to building a snowman in the backyard, winter offers a wonderland of fun activities for children.
But the cold-weather months can also pose safety concerns, such as frostbite and hypothermia, recreational mishaps and the spread of colds and flu.
Still, there's no need to hibernate, says Gordon Braun, physician assistant with Antrim Family & Walk-In Care in Greencastle, Pa., an affiliate of Summit Health.
Instead, a few precautions can go a long way in keeping children warm, safe and healthy.
Bundle up
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a number of problems can arise when infants and children are not properly dressed for cold weather.
Braun agrees.
"Infants lose their body heat more easily than adults," he said. "They can't control their body temperature as well as adults. So it's important to make sure they are dressed appropriately when going outdoors in the winter months."
Braun recommends dressing infants and children in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions.
They should always have warm hats to cover their heads, insulated weather-resistant coats or snowsuits, mittens and proper weather-resistant footwear, he noted.
Improper clothing and exposure to the elements can lead to several health concerns, including hypothermia, a condition, Braun said, which occurs when an individual has an abnormally low body temperature.
"This is caused by your body losing heat faster than it can produce heat," he explained.
Symptoms in both children and adults include shivering, exhaustion, drowsiness, confusion, memory loss and slurred speech, Braun said. Symptoms in infants include bright red, cold skin and sluggish or very low energy levels.
"If you are with someone who has these symptoms, take their temperature," Braun said. "If their temperature is below 95 degrees Fahrenheit, or the individual becomes unresponsive or unconscious seek emergency care immediately."
Another condition parents can help prevent is frostbite, Braun said, which occurs when a part of the body has been injured due to freezing.
"Normally, a body part that has a frostbite injury will lose feeling and color," he said. "Signs that frostbite have occurred include a white or grayish-yellow skin area or skin that feels unusually firm or waxy. Numbness can also occur in the affected area. Once you or someone you are with notices a case of frostbite, seek emergency care immediately."
The AAP warns not to rub the frozen areas. Dry and cover the child with warm clothing or blankets and give him something warm to drink.
To prevent frostbite, Braun suggested wearing several layers of loose clothing, a hat and scarf or knit mask to cover the face and mouth, sleeves that are tight around the wrist, which aids in keeping the cold air from entering the coat; mittens or gloves, a water and wind-resistant coat and water-resistant footwear.
Braun recommended not going outside in very cold weather after a recent bath or shower.
But the cold-weather months can also pose safety concerns, such as frostbite and hypothermia, recreational mishaps and the spread of colds and flu.
Still, there's no need to hibernate, says Gordon Braun, physician assistant with Antrim Family & Walk-In Care in Greencastle, Pa., an affiliate of Summit Health.
Instead, a few precautions can go a long way in keeping children warm, safe and healthy.
Bundle up
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a number of problems can arise when infants and children are not properly dressed for cold weather.
Braun agrees.
"Infants lose their body heat more easily than adults," he said. "They can't control their body temperature as well as adults. So it's important to make sure they are dressed appropriately when going outdoors in the winter months."
Braun recommends dressing infants and children in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions.
They should always have warm hats to cover their heads, insulated weather-resistant coats or snowsuits, mittens and proper weather-resistant footwear, he noted.
Improper clothing and exposure to the elements can lead to several health concerns, including hypothermia, a condition, Braun said, which occurs when an individual has an abnormally low body temperature.
"This is caused by your body losing heat faster than it can produce heat," he explained.
Symptoms in both children and adults include shivering, exhaustion, drowsiness, confusion, memory loss and slurred speech, Braun said. Symptoms in infants include bright red, cold skin and sluggish or very low energy levels.
"If you are with someone who has these symptoms, take their temperature," Braun said. "If their temperature is below 95 degrees Fahrenheit, or the individual becomes unresponsive or unconscious seek emergency care immediately."
Another condition parents can help prevent is frostbite, Braun said, which occurs when a part of the body has been injured due to freezing.
"Normally, a body part that has a frostbite injury will lose feeling and color," he said. "Signs that frostbite have occurred include a white or grayish-yellow skin area or skin that feels unusually firm or waxy. Numbness can also occur in the affected area. Once you or someone you are with notices a case of frostbite, seek emergency care immediately."
The AAP warns not to rub the frozen areas. Dry and cover the child with warm clothing or blankets and give him something warm to drink.
To prevent frostbite, Braun suggested wearing several layers of loose clothing, a hat and scarf or knit mask to cover the face and mouth, sleeves that are tight around the wrist, which aids in keeping the cold air from entering the coat; mittens or gloves, a water and wind-resistant coat and water-resistant footwear.
Braun recommended not going outside in very cold weather after a recent bath or shower.