If you live in a region affected by snow, you know that it can be harsh, burdensome, and even dangerous to navigate through. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, each year sees an average of 105 snow-producing storms that affect the continental United States and those storms kill hundreds of people each year. Many areas around the country have already seen many deaths and record snowfalls.
But winter storms don’t have to lead to tragic consequences, especially if you take the right precautions. Make sure you and your family stay safe from the cold by following these steps from the folks over at Kids Health:
- Dressing in layers is the best way to stay warm and toasty in the cold, because you can start out with lots of clothes to keep you warm and then peel them off once you start to heat up.
- For your top half, start by putting on a long-sleeved undershirt (thermal or woolen). Then put on a turtleneck, one or two shirts, a sweater, and a coat. Pick out clothes made of fabrics other than cotton.
- For your bottom half, put on long underwear first (thermal or woolen), then pull on a pair of heavy pants.
- You’ll stay much warmer with a hat than without one as most of your body heat escapes right from your head. Scarves, face masks, and earmuffs are also great at covering you up.
- Don’t forget waterproof mittens or gloves.
- When you are outside in the cold and breathing hard, you lose a lot of your body’s water through your breath. Make sure to stay hydrated!
- If you’re starting to shiver, your teeth are chattering, or you feel dizzy, it’s a message from your body that you need to head inside.
For more great tips on having fun and staying safe during the cold months, check out the American Academy of Pediatrics’s winter safety guide.
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