Northern Light Pediatrics-Newsletter

A child-friendly checklist for winter warmth
Keep your children safe and warm this winter with these tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

What to wear:
Dress infants and children for outdoor activities using several thin layers. Children should wear thermal long johns, turtlenecks, one or two shirts, pants, sweater, coat, warm socks, boots, gloves or mittens, and a hat. In general, older babies and young children need one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions.

Blankets, quilts, pillows, sheepskins and other loose bedding may contribute to sudden infant death syndrome and should be kept out of infant's sleeping environment. Sleep clothing like one-piece sleepers is preferred. If a blanket must be used to keep a sleeping infant warm, tuck it in around the crib mattress, reaching only as far as the baby's chest, so the infant's face is less likely to become covered by bedding.

Hypothermia
Hypothermia develops when a child's temperature falls below normal due to exposure to cold. This can happen when a youngster is playing outdoors in extremely cold weather without wearing proper clothing.

As hypothermia sets in, the child may shiver and become lethargic and clumsy. If speech becomes slurred and body temperature drops, call 911 at once. Until help arrives, take the child indoors to remove any wet clothing, and wrap him or her in blankets or warm clothes.

Frostbite
Frostbite happens when the skin and outer tissues become frozen, often affecting the fingers, toes, ears and nose. They may become pale, gray and blistered, and the child may complain that his or her skin burns or has become numb.

Be sure to set reasonable time limits on outdoor play. Kids must come indoors occasionally to warm up.

If frostbite occurs, bring the child indoors and place the frostbitten parts of the body in warm (not hot) water. Warm washcloths may be applied to frostbitten nose, ears and lips, but do not rub the frozen areas. After a few minutes, dry and cover the child with clothing or blankets. Give the child something warm to drink. If the numbness continues for more than a few minutes, call your doctor.

-2006 American Academy of Pediatrics, January of 2006