Preventing cold weather injuries
Cold weather injuries can be life or limb threatening. The best way to avoid these injuries is to:
- Be aware of the current and forecasted weather before going outside in the cold.
- Consider keeping children inside when the temperature with or without wind chill is below -27˚C (-16˚F) and limit their time outside when the temperature with or without wind chill is below -15˚C (5˚F).
- Take note of the 'wind chill factor'. This measures how much colder the body feels and how much faster the body loses heat depending on how much the wind is blowing.
- Dress properly for the outside temperature and for the activities you will be doing. For tips on staying warm this winter, visit our page on dressing for the cold.
- Wear a face mask and goggles if you are participating in activities such as skiing and snowmobiling. These high-speed activities can place you at greater risk of windburn or frostbite.
Supervise children in the cold. Frostbite, hypothermia and other cold-weather injuries can come on in minutes. If children are excited about playing outside, it is easy for them not to notice minor discomforts and the first signs of cold-weather injury. Babies and toddlers are at greater risk of cold weather injuries, as they cannot communicate if they are cold. If a child is shivering, it is time to head back inside. Older children, teens and others participating in outdoor winter activities should be encouraged to use a "buddy system" to look for early signs of frostbite in each other. Never send children outside unsupervised in extreme conditions, such as a snowstorm.
Frostbite
Frostbite occurs when body tissues freeze causing cell death. This happens when the blood flow to parts of your body is restricted. Exposed skin and extremities such as fingers and toes, nose, ears and cheeks are most commonly affected. Frostbite can be superficial, meaning it only affects the skin, or deep, meaning it affects body tissues below the skin. Frostbite can be an emergency; if not treated it can lead to severe injuries and even loss of digits or limbs.
Preventing frostbite
- Keep children indoors or reduce their time outside when the weather is cold.
- Dress children appropriately for cold weather—using layers and covering areas that are commonly affected by frostbite—with mittens, hats that cover their ears, and waterproof boots.
- When participating in outdoor activities during cold weather, have your child take breaks to warm up inside throughout the day. Ask them if they are cold and remind them to keep winter clothing on.
Signs of frostbite
At first, a child with superficial frostbite will feel burning, numbness, tingling, itching or cold sensations in the affected area. This area may appear white or more pale than usual.
If you press on the skin, it should depress more or less as usual. As frostbite gets worse and becomes deep, the sensations will decrease and may disappear. The area will swell and the skin will appear white and waxy. The affected area will also be hard and will not depress if you press on the skin. It may be difficult to move the affected area. For example, the person might feel like their fingers or feet are clumsy. In addition, blisters filled with blood or fluid may develop.
In very serious cases, the skin will go black. In mild or moderate cases of frostbite the skin may become quite painful after it rewarms and even peel. An area of skin that has been frostbitten is more likely to be affected again.
Treating superficial frostbite
Get warm. Move indoors or somewhere warm to prevent further heat loss. If your child’s feet are frostbitten, carry your child somewhere warm to prevent tissue damage. Elevate the affected area.
Give your child warm, non-caffeinated fluids to drink. If no warm drinks are available, have your child sip water.
Remove wet clothing and anything that may limit blood flow.
Do not rub the affected area. Do not heat the area with anything hot enough to burn the skin. Constant warming is best. Wrap your child in a blanket in a warm room. You can also use your own body heat to warm the area. For example, you can tuck the child’s affected body part under your arm pit for rewarming. Try rewarming the area by placing it in warm water. Make sure that the water is NOT hot.
As the affected area warms and the skin colour returns to normal, it may be a little painful.
Treating deep frostbite
If your child has deep frostbite, call or go see a health-care provider right away and use all the treatment measures described above.
Do not start warming the affected area if the warming cannot be continuous. Thawing and refreezing will increase tissue damage. Only thaw when you are sure that the area will no longer be exposed to the cold.
If the fingers or toes are affected, apply a dry bandage between them to avoid rubbing. Your child will be in pain as the affected area thaws and blood flow returns. It will begin with a dull ache and may turn into a throbbing pain. Depending on the severity of the frostbite, this may last for several days. The affected area may turn purple or blue as it rewarms.
The amount of tissue damage may not be known for some time.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia happens when the body’s core temperature drops below normal. It is a life-threatening medical emergency. Hypothermia is more common among small children and the elderly.
Signs of hypothermia
Hypothermia means the body temperature has fallen below 35°C (95°F). When the body is this cold, the brain is affected and clear thinking becomes difficult. People with hypothermia are often confused and disoriented. This makes the condition even more dangerous because they may not notice that anything is wrong.
Symptoms include:
- shivering (until hypothermia becomes severe and then the shivering stops)
- clumsiness
- tiredness
- memory loss and confusion
- slurred speech
- pale skin; blue hands and feet
- breathing fast
Treating hypothermia
Hypothermia needs immediate action. If your child shows any of the signs listed above, move to a warm place and call for help. If you can, take your child’s temperature. If it is below 35°C (95°F), the situation is an emergency. Go see a health-care provider immediately or call 911 for help.
If medical care is not available, or if you are waiting for help to arrive, begin warming your child, as follows:
- Get your child into a warm room or shelter.
- Remove any wet clothing.
- Warm the centre of the body first — chest, neck, head and groin — using an electric blanket, if available. Or use skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels or sheets.
- Give your child sips of a warm beverage. This can help increase the body temperature.
- After their body temperature has increased, keep your child dry and wrapped in a warm blanket, including the head and neck.
A person with severe hypothermia may be unconscious and may not seem to have a pulse or to be breathing. In this case, handle the person gently, and call 911 immediately.
Dehydration
Dehydration is a lack of water in the body. People tend to think of dehydration as a heat-related issue. However, dehydration occurs very quickly and easily in cold temperatures. People frequently do not notice dehydration and may not feel thirsty in the cold.
Always make sure children drink plenty of warm fluids to help the body maintain its temperature. If hot drinks are not available, drink plenty of plain water. Make children drink water before going out into the cold. Encourage children to sip water even if they do not feel thirsty.
Signs and symptoms of dehydration
- dry , cracked lips and a dry mouth
- increased thirst
- less urine than normal, no urine for six hours (babies) to 12 hours (children), or dark-coloured urine
- drowsiness or irritability
- cold or dry skin
- low energy levels, seeming very weak or limp
- no tears when crying
- sunken eyes or sunken soft spot (fontanelle) on baby's head
Treatment of dehydration
Begin with sips and gradually increase the amount of liquid. In addition to water, dehydration also includes a loss of salt and sugar. If possible, give your child an oral rehydration solution such as Pedialyte, Gastrolyte, Enfalyte or other brands containing a properly balanced amount of water, sugars and salts. If you have an older child or a teenager, then you can give them a sports drink.
If your child is unresponsive, go see a health-care provider right away.
Snow blindness
Snow blindness is an overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays to the eyes. In the winter, snow blindness is most often caused by exposure to the sun’s rays reflected off snow. Even with no direct sunlight, snow blindness can still occur. You can easily prevent this condition by wearing a good pair of sunglasses or goggles with UV protection.
Symptoms of snow blindness
- pain and discomfort from bright light
- tears and eyelid twitching
- small constricted pupils
Treatment of snow blindness
Remove your child from the light source. Take your child to a health-care provider if symptoms do not go away.