Winter is a great time to get outside and enjoy activities with your family and friends.  It also brings a ton of new risks and potential dangers for would be outdoor enthusiasts.  Below are some friendly tips to keep you and your family safer this winter season.

Safety for Kids

Kids are often not aware of the dangers that winter brings so the best way to stay safe in  bad winter weather is to stay inside. Long periods of exposure to severe cold increase the risk of frostbite or hypothermia.

If kids go out to play after a storm, they should dress in many layers of clothing and wear a hat and mittens. Many layers of thin clothing are warmer than a single layer of thick clothing. One of the best ways to stay warm is to wear a hat and scarf as most body heat is lost through the top of the head and the back of the neck.

Set a time limit that children are to be outside.  Also, they should come inside for warm-up breaks.  Often times, it is easy to get kids inside if you bribe them with hot cocoa and cookies.

If a child starts to shiver a lot, gets very tired, or if their nose, fingers, toes or earlobes start to feel numb or turn very pale, they need to come inside right away. These are signs of hypothermia and frostbite.

Adult Safety

Just like the kids, adults should wear loose, lightweight, and warm clothing in several layers. Trapped air between the layers acts as an insulator. Layers can be removed to avoid perspiration and subsequent chill.

Base layer material should be made of a synthetic material that breathes well.  This will allow the moisture produced by your body to escape.  Outer garments should be tightly woven, treated with a durable water repellent, and hooded.

Also, like the kids, adults should wear a hat or cap on their head. (See body heat leaving body in kid’s section.)   Adults should cover their mouth with a scarf to protect their lungs from extreme cold. Mittens, snug at the wrist, are better than gloves because fingers maintain more warmth when they touch each other.

Adults also need to be aware of the dangers winter can bring.  Prolonged exposure to cold temperatures can cause hypothermia.

Watch for these symptoms:

1. Inability to concentrate
2. Poor coordination
3. Slurred speech
4. Drowsiness
5. Exhaustion
6. Uncontrollable shivering, followed by a sudden lack of shivering

If an adult’s body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit, emergency medical assistance is needed immediately.  He or she should be wrapped in warm blankets and given a warm, non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated liquid until help arrives.

People, working or playing outdoors during the winter, can develop frostbite and not even know it.  There is no pain associated with the early stages of frostbite, so learn to watch for these danger signs:

1. First, the skin may feel numb and become flushed. Then it turns white or grayish-yellow. Frostbitten skin feels cold to the touch.
2. If frostbite is suspected, move the victim to a warm area. Cover the affected area with something warm and dry. Never rub it!
3. Then get to a doctor or hospital as quickly as possible.

Winter can produce many hazards.   The informed person can avoid these hazards and get out and enjoy “Old Man Winter”.

For places to purchase winter clothing check out the Fargo Moorhead Directory.