Playing outside in winter: Keep your kids warm and safe

Heading outside for some wintertime fun like sledding, throwing snowballs or ice skating can be a sure-fire cure for cabin fever. It's also a great way for kids to get the 60 minutes of daily exercise they need. Just be sure your child is dressed right — and know when it’s time to come in and warm up.

Families can also prevent winter-related injuries, whether that means supervising a sledding expedition or helping keep children off thin ice. Here are some tips on keeping children safe:

Cold weather

Children are more at risk from cold outdoor temperatures than adults. Because their bodies are smaller, they lose heat more quickly. Especially if they're having fun, they may not realize how cold they are and may be less likely to come inside when they're getting too cold.

To prevent frostbite and hypothermia, make sure the temperature, including how it feels with the wind chill, is above -15° Fahrenheit. At these temperatures, exposed skin begins to freeze within minutes. Wearing several thin layers of clothing will help keep kids warm and dry. Insulated boots, mittens or gloves and a hat are also essential. Make sure children change out of any wet clothes right away.

To make sure children aren’t exposed for too long, set reasonable limits on the amount of time spent playing outside to prevent hypothermia and frostbite. Make sure kids have a place to go for regular indoor breaks to warm up. And reward them with a healthy and delicious snack!

Winter activities

Building snow forts and snow tunnels requires supervision in case of collapse. Supervision also ensures opening(s) are available for exiting. If the snow fort or tunnel collapses, the supervising individual is available to extricate children who may get trapped inside. When building the fort, avoid the use of sharp tools.

Ice skating is another fun winter activity that can prove hazardous. Allow children to skate only on approved frozen surfaces that have been checked to ensure the ice is thick enough. Check for signs posted by local police or recreation departments or call your local police department to find out which areas have been approved.

Be sure to advise your child to skate in the same direction as the crowd and avoid darting across the ice and to never skate alone. It’s also prudent to make sure children aren’t eating or chewing gum while skating due to the choking hazard. Parents with further concerns can elect to have their child wear a helmet, knee pads and elbow pads. This can be especially helpful while learning to skate to keep them safe from serious head injury or broken bones.

Supervised sledding is another fantastic outdoor recreation idea but safety steps should be taken to ensure sledders are away from large objects such as vehicles or trees that could be crashed into. Equipment safety is important as well as sleds should be free of sharp corners or edges with well lubricated steering mechanisms. Sleds with steering capabilities are safer than simple disks or inner tubes that don’t allow for much control. Safety padding and helmets should be used to prevent serious injury and trusted adults should always be watching.

Safety can look very similar when it comes to skiing or snowboarding: adult supervision is always encouraged on top of general safety equipment such as helmets and goggles that are also tested for fit to ensure they work properly. Additionally, children should be taught how to engage in either sport before taking to the slopes, ideally by a qualified instructor in a program designed for children. If their school offer a ski/snowboard club, this could be a good first step to getting them comfortable.

Snowmobiling has its own host of dangers and as such, the AAP recommends that children under age 16 years not operate snowmobiles — just like they can’t operate a car — and that children under age 6 never ride on snowmobiles. Sledding or skiing with a snowmobile is not safe or recommended. Usual safety precautions, such as helmet and goggle wearing, should be enforced. Traveling at safe speeds and only during daylight hours on marked trails is also recommended.

• Children's health is a continuing series. This column was provided by Dr. Lois Lee, a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. See more at www.healthychildren.org.