1000 SW Jackson
Suite 230
Topeka, KS 66612-1274
(785) 296-1223
(785) 296-8645 (FAX)

Coordinator:
Jan Stegelman

Executive Committee
Dennis Cooley, MD
Medical Advisor
American Academy of
Pediatrics, Kansas
Chapter

Vanda Easley
State Farm Insurance
Companies

Cindy Hermes
State Capitol Area
Firefighters Association

Ami Hyten
Kansas Trial Lawyers
Association

Elena Nuss
Kansas State
Fire Marshall's Office

Rosanne Rutkowski
Kansas State Nurses
Association

Cindy Yelkin
Kansas Hospital
Association

Supervision Equals Safety This Winter Season

For many children, winter does not bring an end to outdoor fun. From sledding to skiing, snowmobiling to ice skating, children find lots to do when the snow starts to fall. Unfortunately, the cold season can also lead to tragedy. For 10-year-old Joshua of Minnesota, it was a deadly snowmobile incident. Five-year-old Jonathan from Massachusetts nearly drowned. Frostbite affected 3-year-old Nicole of Colorado. But winter does not need to be a tragic time for children. When properly prepared, they can enjoy a safe and fun-filled winter wonderland.

"The inviting snow draws children to ice-covered lakes and ski slopes each winter, regardless of the frigid temperatures and the risks," says Jan Stegelman, Coordinator, Kansas SAFE KIDS. "Parents should watch their children closely, limit their outdoor playtime and make sure that they are dressed appropriately for the weather."
Kansas SAFE KIDS recommends the following tips to help keep your children safe:

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

• Supervise children in or near a pool, a hot tub or any body of water.
• Make sure pools and spas are secure. If you have a pool or spa, install four-sided isolation fencing that is at least 5 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.

FROSTBITE
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 degrees Fahrenheit. Infants lose body heat quickly.

If a child complains of numbness or pain in the fingers, toes, nose, cheeks or ears while playing in the snow, or if his skin is blistered, hard to the touch or glossy, be alerted to the possibility of frostbite and take the following steps:

• 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.

PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
Slippery driveways and sidewalks can be particularly hazardous in the winter. Keep them well shoveled, and apply materials 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 clothing with retro-reflective material while walking in snowy conditions. This is especially important if walking at dawn or dusk or during inclement weather.

• Remind children ages 10 and older of the rules of pedestrian safety such as using sidewalks, walking on the left side facing against traffic, stopping at the curb or edge of the road before crossing and looking left, right and left again for traffic. Children should keep looking and listening as they cross.

WINTER SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES
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.

Ice Skating
In 2001, more than 11,100 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for ice skating-related injuries.

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.
• Stretch their arms over the ice and kick as if swimming to crawl back onto solid ice if they fall through.

Sledding
Nearly 15,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in emergency rooms in 2001 for injuries related to sledding. Parents and caregivers should remember the following tips:

• Make sure terrain 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.
• Use equipment that is sturdy and safely constructed. Avoid equipment with sharp and jagged edges.
• Look for energy-absorbing pads on sled seats.
• Examine handholds on sleds to be sure they are secure.
• Ensure sleds and toboggans have steering devices that work easily and don't jam.

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 pulled by a motorized vehicle.
• Make sure the number of children riding on the sled does not exceed the manufacturer's recommendations.

Snow Skiing and Snowboarding
In 2001, more than 17,500 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for snow skiing-related injuries, and nearly 22,600 were treated for snowboarding-related injuries.
With a few safety precautions, skiing and snowboarding are sports that even young children can enjoy. Parents should make sure children follow these suggested precautions:

• Enroll in at least one skiing or snowboarding 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 a ski helmet and eye protection.
• Wear sun protection, even on cloudy days.
• Never ski alone. Young children should always be supervised by an adult.

Snowmobiling
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. 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. Children ages 5 and under should never ride on snowmobiles.

Kansas SAFE KIDS, Inc. is a nonprofit coalition of 67 statewide organizations and businesses dedicated to preventing unintentional injuries to Kansas children ages 0-14. Local coalitions and chapters are located in Anderson, Clay, Dickinson, Doniphan, Douglas, Ford, Franklin, Johnson, Marion, Montgomery, Nemaha, Osage, Pottawatomie, Rice, Saline, and Shawnee Counties, as well as Chanute, Hutchinson, Junction City, Leavenworth, Manhattan, Norton, Pittsburg, and Wichita. Kansas SAFE KIDS is affiliated with the National SAFE KIDS Campaign.