KANSAS
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT
BILL GRAVES, GOVERNOR
Gary R. Mitchell, Secretary

December 4, 1998

Contact: Jan Stegelman, 785-296-1223

Making a Safe Winter Wonderland

Although he had been warned not to, five-year-old Jonathan L. Esperance ventured on to the frozen pond near his house in East Wareham, Mass. Jonathan fell through the ice and was submerged for about 20 to 25 minutes before his father found him.

Jonathan survived his fall into icy waters, but his recovery has been long and arduous. Jonathan spent seven months in the hospital, during which time he slowly emerged from a coma. He has had to learn to walk and speak again.

"While winter activities provide children with amusement during the colder months, they can also be life-threatening," says Jan Stegelman of the Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition. "Parents and caregivers should keep a watchful eye on winter play, limit outdoor playtime when temperatures are frigid and be sure their children dress appropriately for the weather."

The Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition recommends the following suggestions to help keep your children safe:

Most parents associate drowning with summer months, but the increased use of hot tubs and whirlpools as well as the danger of hidden bodies of water or weak ice make winter drownings a risk as well. To reduce the risk of drowning, parents and caregivers should:

• Supervise children in or near a pool, hot tub or any body of water.
• Beware of children overheating in hot tubs and whirlpools.
• Make sure pools and spas are secure. If you have a pool or spa, install four-sided isolation fencing that is at least five feet high. The fence should have a self-closing and self-latching gate. Do not use the exterior of the house as one side of the fence.
• Allow children to skate only on ponds or lakes that have been approved for skating.

Exposure to cold without adequate protection can result in frostbite. Parents can protect their children by following these precautions:

• Dress children warmly. Several thin layers will help keep children dry as well as warm. Clothing should consist of thermal long johns, turtlenecks, one or two shirts, pants, sweater, coat, warm socks, boots, gloves or mittens, and a hat.
• Set reasonable time limits on outdoor play. Call children in periodically to warm up with drinks such as hot chocolate.
• When possible, avoid taking infants outdoors when it is colder than 40 F. Infants lose body heat quickly.

• Take the child indoors.
• Call a doctor.
• Tell the child to wiggle the affected body part(s) to increase blood supply to that area.
• Warm the frozen part(s) against the body. Hold fingers to the chest, for example.
• Immerse frozen part(s) in warm, not hot, water. Frozen tissue is fragile and can be damaged easily. Avoid warming with high heat from radiators, fireplaces or stoves, and avoid rubbing or breaking blisters.

• Slippery driveways and sidewalks can be particularly hazardous in the winter. Keep them well shoveled, and apply material such as rock salt or sand to improve traction.
• Make sure that children under age 10 do not cross streets alone, and make sure children wear appropriate shoes and brightly colored (not white) clothing while walking in snowy conditions. Use retroreflective clothing or stickers for maximum protection, especially at dawn and dusk.

Parents and caregivers should inspect equipment and the environment for possible hazards before children engage in winter activities such as sledding, ice skating and skiing. Remind children not to push, shove or roughhouse while engaging in sports, and tell them always to wait their turn.

In 1996, more than 16,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in emergency rooms for injuries related to ice skating. But with extra care, even children as young as age 4, as long as they are steady walkers, can enjoy the sport. Allow children to skate only on approved surfaces. Check for signs posted by local police or recreation departments, or call your local police department to find out which areas have been approved. Children should be taught to:

• Skate in the same direction as the crowd.
• Avoid darting across the ice.
• Never skate alone.
• Never go out on ice that an adult has not approved.
• Throw away chewing gum or candy before skating onto the ice.

If a child falls through the ice, he should stretch his arms over the ice and kick as if swimming, in an attempt to crawl back onto the solid ice.

More than 18,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in emergency rooms in 1996 for injuries related to sledding. Parents and caregivers should look for:

• Terrain that is free of obstacles and far from traffic. Children should sled on packed snow (not ice) that is free of debris. Check carefully for snow-covered hazards such as rocks, tree limbs and stumps that could endanger sledders or skiers.
• Sturdy and safe construction of equipment. Avoid equipment with sharp and jagged edges.
• Energy absorbing pads on sled seats.
• Secure handholds on sleds.
• Easy steering, non-jamming mechanisms on sleds and toboggans.
• Gently-sloping terrain.

Parents should remind children to:

• Sled only on terrain that is free of obstacles.
• Make sure the bottom of the slope is far from streets and traffic.
• Always use a sled with a steering mechanism. Avoid makeshift sleds.
• Avoid lying flat on the sled while riding down hill. Always sit up with feet forward -- lying flat increases the chance of head and abdominal injuries.
• Never ride in a sled that is being pulled by a motorized vehicle.
• Make sure the number of children riding on the sled does not exceed the manufacturer's recommendations.

In 1996, more than 14,000 children ages 5 to 14 visited emergency rooms for snow skiing-related injuries. But with a few safety precautions, skiing is a sport that even young children can enjoy. Parents should make sure children follow these suggested precautions:

• Enroll in at least one skiing lesson to start off on the right track.
• Use caution when entering and exiting the ski lift.
• Do not ski out of control or go too fast.
• Be aware of other people on the slope.
• Wear eye protection.
• Wear sun protection even on cloudy days.
• Never ski alone. Young children should always be supervised by an adult.

Snowmobiles can weigh up to 600 pounds and travel at speeds in excess of 90 mph. Head injuries are the leading cause of snowmobile-related deaths. In 1996, more than 1,300 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in emergency rooms for snowmobile-related injuries. The American Academy of Pediatrics has stated that operating snowmobiles is inappropriate for children under age 16. If a child is riding as a passenger on a snowmobile, be sure he is wearing an approved helmet.

When properly prepared, your child's winter wonderland can be a safe and fun-filled adventure!

The Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition, Inc. is a nonprofit group of 60 statewide organizations that have joined to protect Kansas children from unintentional injury --the leading killer of Kansas kids. Local Coalitions and chapters are located in Wichita, Johnson County, Lawrence, Salina, Barber County, Topeka, Ford County, Manhattan, Hutchinson, Pottawatomie County, and Clay County. Kansas SAFE KIDS is a part of the national SAFE KIDS Campaign.