With the cold months up ahead (although you would not know it this week) I am devoting this week's Works for Me to what parents should or should not do in the bitter cold with your children. My own one solid piece advice is to have hot chocolate and marshmallows on hand. That way when you want your child(ren) to come inside you can bribe them to come in voluntarily. I have also heard of parents bringing the snow into the bathtub on days when it is too cold to take the children out. This next portion is actually a few tips on frostbite that you might or might not have heard before. I pulled from my "It Worked For Me" book, which is a compilation book distributed by Parent's Magazine.
To prevent frostbite:
DO give a child plenty of fluids and a hearty meal or snack before she goes outside. This helps blood distribute heat to the body's extremities.
DO teach your child to learn the warning signs of frostbite and to come indoors if they get wet or at the first sign of numbness. (For younger children, you will be the one pointing this out to them)
DO bring a child indoors for change of clothes immediately if she gets at all wet.
Warning signs of frostbite:
Ice crystals form on the skin
Sufferer feels pain and burning sensation as skin begins to thaw.
Skin turns red, pale, or white.
Skin blisters and/or dark patches form under the skin.
To treat frostbite:
DO bring your child indoors at once.
DO cover the affected areas with extra clothing, a warm, wet washcloth or blankets. As rewarming occurs, your child should feel a tingling and burning sensation and the skin should turn red.
DO seek medical attention if the skin blisters, if you see dark blue or black areas under the skin or if the skin remains numb and/ or painful after 15 minutes of warming.
DO dry the affected areas. Wrap in sterile dry clothes, separating finger and toes if you can't see a doctor right away.
DON'T apply heat from heating pads, which could burn numb skin.
DON'T rub sensitive frostbitten skin, which can cause further damage.
Okay, your turn now. What have you done, or heard of others doing, when it comes to children playing outside in the winter months?
Comments (3)
That's scary stuff. My 2-yo wanted to play outside this morning (38-40 degrees). We were bundled and I told her from the onset that we weren't going to stay out long. We came back in about 5 minutes after her nose turned red. I was wondering if that's a good rule? "Your nose is red, time to come in." What "rules" do the rest of use when it comes to playing in the cold?
Posted by Jan | November 8, 2008 2:20 PM
Posted on November 8, 2008 14:20
I always tell my kids, "come in when you are cold" - have not had a problem with frostbite yet! They have always been good about coming in.
Posted by Chris Wasz | November 11, 2008 10:52 AM
Posted on November 11, 2008 10:52
My kids don't like the cold very much so I have more trouble getting them to say outside long enough to build a snowman or go sledding. I usually end up making a snowman by myself. My husband thinks its funny that I feel the need to have a snowman. So to keep kids warm it is good to have a box of extra hats, gloves and scarfs for when they get snow in them and get wet. When I was a kid we used socks when we ran out of glove. lol That doesn't relay work all that well. Did anyone ells do that as a child?
Posted by Melody | November 11, 2008 2:34 PM
Posted on November 11, 2008 14:34