CALGARY – With the holiday season upon us, Alberta Health Services (AHS) would like to remind Calgarians of the potential hazards winter sports and other outdoor activities can pose, especially for children and teens. Last year, more than 1,900 young patients were seen at Alberta Children’s Hospital with injuries related to cold temperatures and winter activities. It is important for children and teens to stay active during the winter. Parents can help them to stay safe by following a few tips:
Preparation
- Children should dress warmly. Wearing mittens, a hat and multiple thin layers will help keep them dry and warm.
- Children can still get sunburned in the winter as sun reflects off the snow. Sunscreen should be applied liberally to sun-exposed skin to help prevent sunburn all year-round.
- Set appropriate time limits. Depending on the temperature, parents should allow their child to play outside for 30 to 60 minutes, then come back in to warm up.
Frostbite
- Frostbite occurs when skin becomes so cold, the skin and underlying tissues freeze. Affected skin may look white and waxy and feel hard to the touch.
- Move to a warm environment immediately and place the area in warm, not hot, water until fully warmed.
Hypothermia
- Hypothermia occurs when the body gets cold and loses heat faster than the body can make it.
- Early hypothermia can cause shivering; cold, pale or blue-grey skin; mild unsteadiness; slurred speech; numb hands and fingers; as well as problems performing tasks.
- Late hypothermic symptoms include stiff muscles, slow pulse, slow and shallow breathing, weakness or sleepiness, and the trunk of the body feels cold to the touch.
- Hypothermia is an emergency condition and can quickly lead to unconsciousness and death if heat loss continues. Call 911 immediately.
Sledding and skiing
- Ensure everyone in your family wears a helmet while sledding or skiing.
- Children should sit or lie down on a sled feet first to reduce the likelihood of head injury.
- When sledding, younger children should be kept in a separate area from older children.
- Avoid sledding or skiing on hills with trees or other obstructions.
- Sled or ski only on hills covered in snow, not ice.
- Young children should be supervised by an adult.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.
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