Winter Sports Safety
Published on
Health Tip of the WeekPublished on
Health Tip of the Week Just because a cold wind is blowing doesn’t mean you have to be trapped inside. There are so many fun outdoor winter activities — sledding, skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, snowman building or just a good old fashioned snowball fight. The key to enjoying cold weather fun is staying safe and warm. Here are a few tips so your kids can enjoy their winter wonderlands.
Kids don't always think of their own safety when it comes to dressing warmly. Some kids don't want to wear a coat or don't think to wear gloves or hats. As a rule of thumb, when you dress babies and young children, add one more layer than an adult would wear. Even older children who are headed out to play in cold weather should load up on layers.
There are many types of fabrics designed to keep body heat in. Long underwear, extra warm socks and fleece tops are good choices. If there is snow on the ground, winter snow boots are a must. And no matter how much your child protests, insist on a hat and warm gloves, such as ski gloves that have extra insulation, to protect smaller fingers.
The sun can still cause skin damage, even in the winter. Use sunscreen and lip balm on your child — especially during snow sports where the sun reflects off of the snow and ice and right back onto your child's face. Luckily, your child should have less exposed skin during the winter than she does in the summer, so there’s less skin to cover with sunscreen — just be sure to protect your child's cheeks, nose and lips.
Find more tips for keeping your kids safe during winter sports along with additional safety and injury prevention resources from the Injury Prevention Program at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Categories: Health Tip of the Week, Sports