Monday, January 5, 2009

Winter Safety Tips..

Sled Safely

Sledding is a great way to have fun in the snow, but being careful is essential. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, approximately 46,000 sledding injuries are seen in hospital emergency rooms every year. Most are children under the age of 15 with head injuries

1. Choose a hill for your children to sled on that is away from trees, rocks and other obstacles.
2. Make sure there is no street traffic or frozen water anywhere near the bottom of the sledding hill - a sled may not always come to a stop exactly where you want it to.
3. Check your child's sled to make sure it is in good condition with secure handholds and steering that works.
4. Tell your child to never ride on a sled that is being pulled by a car or snowmobile.
5. Remind your child to always sled while sitting up with his feet forward. Lying on a sled increases the chance of head injuries.
6. Have your child wear a helmet while sledding.

Prevent Winter Sports Injuries

Children should wear helmets and eye protection while skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling.

1. Make sure your child's helmet is specifically designed for the activity he is participating in.Helmets should be well-fitted to prevent shifting or jostling of the helmet.
2. Make sure children know to stay on marked trails while skiing, snowboarding or snowmobiling.
3. Child According to recommendations from the American Pediatric Association, children under 16 years old should never operate snowmobiles. Children younger than 5 should never ride on a snowmobile, even with an adult.
4.Keep Free from Frostbite and Hypothermia
5. Children are more susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia than adults. Be aware of the symptoms and know how to treat your child if either occurs.
6. Frostbite is when soft tissue, usually in fingers or toes, freezes. There are several stages of frostbite. If severe enough, frostbite can require amputation, but most often no permanent damage will occur if skin is warmed up carefully.

Symptoms:
� Numbness
� Blisters
� Soft or frozen doughy feeling to exposed skin
� Tingling and burning of frostbitten area upon re-warming
� Aching or throbbing pain upon re-warming
� Redness, swelling upon re-warming
� Blackness

What to do: If a child complains of numbness or pain in her fingers, toes, nose, cheeks or ears while playing outdoors, check to see if her skin is blistered, hard to the touch, or glossy. If so:
� Have her come inside immediately.
� Have the child move the numb part of her body to increase blood supply.
� Do not rub the skin to warm it up, as this can cause tissue damage.
� Immerse the frozen skin in warm water. (Make sure the water is warm but never hot so the tissue isn't further damaged.
� Get medical help if the area stays numb after warming.

Hypothermia occurs when too much heat escapes from the body and body temperature drops lower than its normal 98.6 degrees F to 95 degrees F or lower. While severe hypothermia can cause internal organ damage or lead to death, it is generally not something to be concerned about unless a person is trapped outdoors or in cold water for an extended period of time without proper protection.

Symptoms:
� Shivering
� Numbness
� Muscle weakness
� Drowsiness
� Incoherence
� Lowered body temperature
� Slow pulse

What to do:

� Call 911 for help.
� Bring your child to a warm place.
� Wrap your child in blankets to retain body heat.
� Don't expose your child to any direct heat sources like hot water bottles, heating pads, radiators or fireplaces.

Why Winter Safety is Important
Winter can be a fun season for children, but hospital emergency rooms and their doctors see too many children with head injuries, broken bones and other serious winter injuries.

According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, in 2007 there were:
17,000 estimated injuries among children from skiing and snowboarding
24,500 estimated injuries from sledding
1,500 estimated injuries from snowmobiles and equipment
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:
Each year there are approximately 5,740 emergency room visits due to snow thrower-related injuries. Don't let your child be a statistic. Avoid visits to your local emergency room by helping your child stay safe while having fun during.

Please keep in mind that the text provided is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment or making any changes to existing treatment.

Nurse Donna

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