Kids should stay inside or have parents close

For most people, the blizzard that dumped 20 inches of snow on the suburbs was a nightmare.

For many children, though, it was the nightmare before Christmas.

But even though kids may be itching to play outdoors after two days of isolation, public safety officials are warning parents to keep children inside today or else keep a close eye on their kids at all times.

Negative wind chills coupled with snow drifts higher than small children and many adults can make for potentially dangerous situations, they say.

“With kids, it's hard to keep them inside when there's a lot of snow outside,” said Don Bryant, executive director of the Kane County Officer of Emergency Management.

But, he added, “It's very easy for a small child to get caught up in the fun they're having and get caught in one of these snow drifts. If kids go outside, make sure to dress them in layers and dress them warmly. It really is important for parents to be aware of where the kids are ... and make sure that they're safe.”

A favorite wintertime activity for children is burrowing tunnels through the snow. Simply because of the sheer volume of the snow, that could be ill-advised today.

“A lot of this snow is starting to get real heavy or starting to freeze,” said Kane County Sheriff's Lt. Pat Gengler. “Should that come down and nobody's there to help you, it could be a really bad situation.”

Safety officials said because the region got so much snow, children will have plenty of time to play in it — when it is warmer and less dangerous.

“There's a reason why school's closed,” said Debra Quackenbush, community information coordinator for the McHenry County Department of Health. “They don't want children exposed to those dangerous weather conditions. You would urge parents to do the same.”

She added: “Frostbite and hypothermia can set in pretty quickly. I would wait until the temperatures are a little warmer. If you're battling the snow, you're not going to win.”