With winter formally upon us and our children desperate to play outdoors, Dr. Jamie Kondis, Pediatrician at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, is right here to assist us higher perceive the signs, remedy, and prevention of chilly climate accidents. Children are at higher threat for chilly climate sicknesses equivalent to frostbite or hypothermia as a result of their smaller our bodies are likely to get colder extra shortly.
Frostbite is an enormous concern within the winter, occurring in extremities just like the fingers, toes, and nostril, inflicting them to develop into pink and tingly, then grey and numb, and even develop blisters. Soaking extremities in heat water for 20-Half-hour will normally soothe the signs. If your youngster continues to be in ache, name your pediatrician or take them to the ER.
Hypothermia happens when an individual’s physique temperature drops too low. Symptoms begin with shivering however can flip into clumsiness, confusion, or lethargy. This is taken into account a medical emergency in order you search medical consideration, take away any moist clothes and wrap your youngster in heat blankets.
Cold climate shouldn’t cease your youngsters from having enjoyable outdoors. As temperatures get low, monitor your youngster’s publicity time and bundle them up in heat layers of clothes to forestall chilly weather-related accidents.