Snow Safety Tips for Children
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital would like to remind the community of a few snow safety tips:
- Avoid cold exposure:
- Only allow your child to be outside for short increments of time to avoid frostbite.
- Dress your child in protective and waterproof clothing, including gloves and a hat. If your child wears a scarf, beware of it becoming a choking hazard.
- Make sure to only give hand warmers to age-appropriate children.
- Safely playing:
- Make sure your child is wearing a helmet if they are snowboarding, skiing or sledding.
- Keep your child hydrated by making sure they drink plenty of water throughout the day. For every 20 minutes of play, a child should drink about 10 gulps of water.
- Apply sunscreen since the sun can reflect off snow.
- Safely traveling:
- Stay home if possible. Home is the safest place for kids during winter weather.
- Remove your child’s coat before buckling them into a car seat. Watch this video on best practices.
- Have a fully stocked emergency supply kit with blankets, water, snacks, and hand warmers.
- Let a family member or friend know where you are going before you travel.
- Prevent home fires:
- Do not heat your home with your oven or stove.
- Make sure space heaters are three feet away from any flammable objects.
- Do not use outside heating or cooking sources in your home. Not only can they cause a fire, but they can also cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Urgent Care supports families and their physicians by delivering immediate medical care for children—newborns to 21 years of age—when their doctor’s office is closed. They also provide follow-up care by working with your child’s pediatrician.
Because they understand that illnesses and injuries are rarely convenient, Urgent Care locations are open nights and weekends and are located in West Knoxville, Powell, Alcoa and Sevierville.
