Winter Safety Reminders

The long winter months don’t have to be spent indoors avoiding snow and cold weather. The Adventure Mom team are HUGE proponents of getting families to enjoy winter. We’re extra excited about winter sports with the Olympics now just days away. Because extreme temps can bring extra hazards, here’s just a few reminders to help you safely enjoy the outdoor winter activities with your family. You may also need some winter safety reminders.

Humans were not meant to hibernate #3

Dressing Babies and Children for Winter Weather

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends dressing babies and children in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear.

Wear sun glasses. The glare off the snow can be horrible on your eyes. Photo Contest

Wear sun screen. Once again, the glare off the snow can reek havoc on your skin.

Don’t ignore shivering; it is a sign your body is loosing heat.

Take warm up breaks. Get in the car, in the house or drink some hot chocolate. Some our our favorite trails have a nature center or museum on the property. Great place for taking a break and warming up.

Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat. Wet clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly.

Know the Signs of hypothermia: uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion. Treatment: move person to a warm location, remove wet clothing, give the person non-alcoholic, warm drink to warm them from the inside out. Get medical help as soon as possible (source).

Signs of frostbite: loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, and the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, get medical help immediately (source).

*Let someone know where you are. I know, duh! But if you are like me, you enjoy some outdoor alone time. Even if you are taking your children, it is a good idea. You never know what will happen.

In case you need a few ideas for winter activities check out Humans Were Not Meant to Hibernate Through the Winter and Five Top Ways to Ski Bargain Basement Style.

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Mae Kiggins

There are not many places that I would rather be than outdoors. I grew up hiking and camping in the Rockies. In college I studied natural resources and worked as a park ranger, research assistant and policy intern. Now-a-days my adventures include my two children, 4 and 1, and husband. When my son was asked what he was thankful for he said camping. In the spring of 2014 I will begin the new adventure of teaching environmental studies at the college level.