10 Best Winter Safety Tips for Your Cute Kids
Winter is Coming.....
“To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold” -Aristotle.
Everyone likes winter because of its mixed magical feeling. But,
winter storms and freezing temperatures are hazardous. Let’s see here best winter safety tips for your cute kids.
Plan beforehand to stay safe and healthy. Make sure your home and cars are ready. Prepare for possible power disruptions as well as outdoor activities.
Although winter is unavoidable, many of us may be unprepared for its arrival. When the temperatures start to drop, you’ll be more likely to stay safe and healthy if you’re prepared for the dangers of winter.
Children are more vulnerable to the effects of the cold than adults. They lose heat more quickly because their bodies are tiny. They may be less hesitant to come inside when it gets too cold, especially if they’re having fun.
Going outside for some wintertime fun, such as sledding, snowball tossing, or ice skating, is a sure-fire treatment for cabin fever. It’s also a fantastic method for youngsters to acquire their recommended 60 minutes of daily activity.
Just make sure your youngster is properly attired and understands when it’s time to come inside and warm up.
Frostbite or even life-threatening hypothermia can occur in children who are exposed to intense cold for an extended time without wearing warm, dry, breathable clothes.
What are the Common Diseases that attack Kids during Winter?
1. Common cold
The common cold is a viral infection with typically mild symptoms; however, children may experience a low-grade fever early in the illness. Colds may strike at any time of year, although they appear to be more common in the winter. A cold can be caused by a variety of viruses and can last anywhere from 5 to 14 days.
2. Seasonal Flu
Children with the flu, on the other hand, usually feel worse than children with a cold. They may get a sudden fever, along with chills, a headache, and body pains. A sore throat, a runny nose, and a cough are all possible symptoms. They are also typically unhappy, weary, and have a lack of appetite.
3. RSV
RSV(Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is a common viral respiratory illness that causes bronchiolitis in infants under the age of two. Although bronchiolitis may be caused by a variety of viruses, RSV is one of the most frequent, which means RSV can be dangerous in newborns.
4. Stomach Flu
Viral gastroenteritis, sometimes known as the stomach bug or stomach flu, is an intestinal ailment caused by a virus. It is, however, unrelated to the ordinary flu or the influenza virus; norovirus is the most prevalent cause. Stomach viruses are very infectious and can produce severe long-lasting symptoms. Vomiting usually lasts 1-2 days, however, certain gastrointestinal symptoms might last up to a week.
5. Strep throat
The bacterial illness strep throat is more frequent in the autumn, winter, and early spring. It is most frequent in youngsters aged 5 to 15 years old.
Strep throat is not accompanied by a cough or a runny nose. In children with strep throat, a red rash can develop, leading to a scarlet fever diagnosis.
What are the Cold-related Illnesses in Children?
1. Hypothermia
When your body is exposed to extreme cold, it loses heat quicker than it can create it. Cold exposure over an extended time will deplete your body’s stored energy.
Hypothermia, or an unusually low body temperature, is the outcome. The brain is affected by a low body temperature, rendering the person unable to think effectively or move well. Hypothermia is especially harmful since a person may not realize it is happening and may be unable to stop it.
2. Frostbite
Frostbite is a type of physical damage induced by freezing. Frostbite causes the afflicted parts to lose their sensation and color. The nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, and toes are the most commonly affected areas.
Frostbite damages human tissues permanently, and severe instances might result in amputation. Workers with poor blood circulation and those who are not adequately clothed are more susceptible to frostbite in severely low temperatures.
3. Trench Foot
Trench foot, also known as immersion foot, is a foot injury caused by extended exposure to damp and freezing temperatures. If the feet are consistently damp, trench feet can develop at temperatures as high as 60 degrees F.
Wet feet lose heat 25 times faster than dry feet, resulting in injury. As a result, to minimize heat loss, the body constricts blood vessels in the foot, effectively shutting down circulation. Because of a shortage of oxygen and nutrients, as well as a buildup of harmful chemicals, skin tissue begins to die.
4. Chilblains
The frequent exposure of skin to temperatures slightly above freezing to as high as 60 degrees F causes chilblains.
The skin’s capillary beds (groups of tiny blood vessels) are damaged by cold exposure. The damage is permanent, and continued exposure will cause the redness and itching to reappear. Redness and itching are most common on the cheeks, ears, fingers, and toes.
How to make your Kid-Safe during Winter?
1. Vaccination:
There are two types of influenza vaccinations available for the influenza season of 2021-2022. The first is what is commonly referred to as the “flu shot.” The second is in the form of a nasal spray. This year’s children’s immunizations all include four influenza viruses (two A and two B viruses).
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) both encourage as many children as possible to obtain a flu shot each year.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that children receive any approved vaccination available this year that is suitable for their age and health status.
For the 2021-2022 flu season, both forms of accessible flu vaccination (flu injection or nasal spray) can be provided according to their indications, with no preference.
Now Government providing Covid-19 vaccinations for all children aged 5 years and above, get the one one for your child to prevent him/her from covid-19 threat.
2. Dress to Warm up:
As your children get ready to go out, make sure they are dressed appropriately to protect them from the bitter cold. Dress them in light, breathable cold clothing rather than heavy, cumbersome clothing. Choose a cotton base layer that you may layer with a woolen sweater or a warm jacket.
When sending your children off to school, always dress them in layers so that they may remove only the outer layer if they get too hot. It’s preferable if the outer jacket includes a zipper so the youngster may remove it quickly.
Hands should be protected with mittens, and the head and ears should be protected with a snugly fitted hat over the hood of the jacket.
3. Boost Immunity with Foods:
The healthier your child’s immune system is coming into cold and flu season. One of the most effective strategies to strengthen the immune system is to consume vitamin and nutrient-rich meals and beverages.
Beef includes zinc, which is necessary for the formation of white blood cells, which your kid utilizes to kill germs.
Vitamin C-rich fruits include oranges, pomegranates, strawberries, and raspberries, which are all high in this essential vitamin.
Garlic includes allicin, an antibacterial and anti-infectious chemical.
Yogurt with probiotics—probiotics keep disease-causing microorganisms out of the digestive tract.
Much like your home requires additional energy to remain warm throughout the winter, your child’s body will require extra nutrition to battle viruses and illnesses when they do attack.
Avoid – Consuming too much sugar might expose your children to viral and bacterial diseases. During the winter, avoid offering your children soda, cold beverages, candy, chocolates, highly refined morning cereals, and processed foods.
4. Sleep to have a Healthy Immune system:
In addition to ensuring that your children receive enough sleep each night, encourage them to take time off each day to relax.
The slower pace will allow their immune system to relax and recoup, whether they want to watch an episode of their favorite program on TV, make a snowman, color, or play with toys. Sleep is vital to building a healthy immune system because it helps the body to heal and restore itself.
5. Keep them Engaged:
Children should engage in at least 60 minutes of physical exercise every day. While the week, kids may complete some of this during school, but make sure they receive their entire 60 minutes after school, especially on holidays and weekends.
The harmful fog and extremely low temperatures throughout the morning hours endanger your children’s health. You can participate in afternoon gaming sessions with your children to keep them active.
6. Keep an eye on the temperature outside:
At the first glimpse of fresh snow, many children want to hurry outside. Playing outside is beneficial to them and can help them stay active throughout the day (not to mention, keep everyone sane on back-to-back snow days).
Just keep in mind that they should restrict their time outside when it’s really cold, especially when temperatures dip into the 20s or lower depending on the wind chill.
7. Make your living space secure and comfortable:
In your children’s room, use a cold-air humidifier to give moisture to the breathed air and avoid stuffy noses and nosebleeds. To assist keep their nose moist, saline nasal drops can be administered. Don’t forget to aerate their rooms as well.
A confined heated area can attract more microorganisms than an open one with adequate airflow. It is not necessary to open all of the windows and doors. When the sun is shining brightly, simply leave the windows and doors open for a few minutes to allow fresh air to circulate around the room.
Sunlight is a natural disinfectant, so allow it to enter your rooms.
8. Modify Bathing habits:
In the winter, children are more likely to develop a cold when taking showers, thus bath periods should be kept to a minimum. You should not keep your children in heated showers or hot water baths for too long as this might dehydrate their skin.
Showers should be preceded by a decent oil massage and followed by dollops of moisturizer to guarantee that your children have soft, supple, and healthy skin that glows even in the hardest winters.
During the winter, mustard oil, sesame oil, olive oil, and almond oil are all acceptable possibilities for massage. Milder soaps should also be used on children’s skin to keep it from drying out. Baths should not be ignored since they can lead to infections and communicable diseases such as the common cold, flu, and pneumonia.
9. Use sunscreen to protect their skin:
Nothing surpasses the sensation of soaking up the winter sun. Sunlight can provide 90 percent of your child’s vitamin D needs. Although winter sunshine is delightful and beneficial to your children’s health, it also contains hazardous UV rays.
If you expose them to the sun for an extended length of time, they may develop sunburn and skin cancer. So remember to apply sunscreen on their skin anytime they go outside.
10. Keeping Hands Clean:
Begin by lathering your hands with moisturizing hand soap. Frequent hand washing, which is especially important during the winter virus season, adds to the problem by further drying your kid’s skin.
Look for soaps that resemble lotions rather than standard soaps and have phrases like “moisturizing” or “conditioning” on the label. Antibacterial and deodorant soaps should be avoided.
Teach your kids ‘Cough etiquette,’ which the American Academy of Pediatrics describes as teaching children. To turn their heads and cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue or the inside of their elbow if they don’t have a tissue, instead of simply coughing or sneezing onto their hands, which will then spread their germs onto everything they touch.
When Should You Take Your Child to the Doctor?
Most winter illnesses go away on their own within a few days, but others might progress to more serious medical problems. If your kid shows any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor straight away:
- Fever of 103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
- A fever and a severe sore throat
- Diarrhea and/or vomiting
- Wheezing and/or difficulty breathing
