While many adults dread the inconveniences of winter, the season can’t seem to get here sooner for children who want to build a snowman or ride on a toboggan. Since children are less able to comprehend when they begin to feel cold, you must help them stay warm and safe when indoors, outdoors, or travelling.
Here are some tips to keep your children safe this winter:
- Dress your child for the cold weather with warm and comfortable attire. When layering, the base item should be woollen to prevent moisture.
- Winterproof your child’s skin by moisturizing his/her face, hands, feet, and lips after baths and before going to bed. During the day, remember to apply sunscreen to protect the skin from harmful UV radiation.
- Minimize exposure to the cold since children are not as tolerant to extremely low temperatures as adults. Protect vulnerable parts of the body, such as ears, hands and feet from frostbite.
- Reduce the risk of catching a cold or flu by getting your child vaccinated in time. These viral infections are highly contagious during winter because people spend more time indoors. So, in addition to getting a flu shot, teach your child to cover their mouth when they sneeze or cough (with the elbow) and to wash their hands with warm water and soap regularly.
- Ensure that your child continues to drink plenty of water, soups, and warm cocoa as dehydration makes one more susceptible to a cold or flu.
- Promote a nutritious healthy diet that improves the body’s natural defence mechanism. A healthy winter diet should include items rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, especially fruits and vegetables.
- Encourage your children to stay active by participating in fun activities, such as skiing, skating, snowboarding, and tobogganing. But discourage them from sledding near the road, pavement, or water.
- Encourage safe outdoor activities by playing at a good distance from the road; dressing in layers to avoid injuries from falling; wearing protective gear like helmets and boots with good grip; avoiding areas with frozen water since the ice could break; and changing inner clothes layers when they get sweaty to avoid hypothermia or frostbite.
- Dress your child in bright clothes when going out so they are easily visible to drivers during the day and night.
- Teach your children to be extra careful when crossing the road, and to stay away from curbs until the road is clear to cross.
Winter is a time to have fun, but it is important that your children enjoy themselves safely. Following these tips will ensure that they have a happy wintertime.