Snow and Winter Safety Tips for Children
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital would like to remind the community of a few snow and winter safety tips:
- Safely playing
- We suggest your child wear 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.
- Prevent home fires
- Do not heat your home with your oven.
- 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 which can make your family ill.
- Avoid cold exposure
- Only allow your child to be outside for short increments of time (around 20-30 minutes) to avoid frostbite.
- Dress your child in protective and waterproof clothing, including gloves and a hat.
- Make sure to only give hand warmers to age-appropriate children.
- Take a hot cocoa break to help your child warm up before they go back out to play.
- Safely traveling
- Stay home if possible. Home is the safest place for children during winter weather.
- Remove your child’s coat before buckling them into a car seat. Learn more about winter coats and car seat safety.
- 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.
- Grocery list for fun treats you can make with your child
- With these ingredients, you can make hot chocolate, snow cream and a brownie in a mug.
- Cocoa powder
- Vanilla extract
- Milk
- Granulated sugar
- Chocolate chips
- Butter
- All-purpose flour
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. Because they understand that illnesses and injuries are rarely convenient, their five urgent locations are open nights and weekends and are located in Blount County, Sevierville, West Knoxville, North Knoxville and Oak Ridge.
