Sledding,
ice skating, snow angels and snow forts are some of the
things that come to mind when thinking about Wisconsin
winters. Less
desirable things that may come to mind are freezing
temperatures, ice and frostbite.
For
the multitude of health benefits the outdoors provides,
Wisconsin child care providers are required to take children
outside every day, even in the winter months (except when
the wind chill factor is 0 degrees F or below).
Providers must take precautions every time they ready
children to play outside in the snow and the cold to ensure
that children do not get frostbite.
Frostbite is not just about being cold.
It is far more serious than that.
When skin is continually exposed to cold temperatures
and/or becomes wet from playing in the snow, the skin and
underlying tissues may freeze, resulting in frostbite. The
areas most likely to be affected by frostbite are the hands
and fingers, feet and toes, nose and ears.
Frostbite is painful for everyone, but especially for
young children. Frostbite
is identified by the hard, pale and cold quality of the skin
that has been exposed to the cold.
Below are tips for child care providers and parents
to aid in the prevention of frostbite and the steps to take
if a child or staff has frostbite.
Preventing
Frostbite
1.
Require that every child keep one sturdy pair of
gloves or mittens, boots,
snowpants, a hat and a scarf at child care every day.
2.
If families cannot afford these items, appeal to
local businesses, other center families, and community
service clubs for donations.
3.
Go to Goodwill or a local discount store and buy
extra gloves, boots, scarves, etc. for children who may not
have good quality items.
Let children use them at the Center, and keep them at
the Center.
4.
If children’s fingers and hands are wet from
playing in the snow with flimsy gloves or mittens, have
extra sets of clean, dry gloves outside that children can
wear while their own pair dries inside.
5.
Go outside for shorter time periods, but allow enough
time for children to play.
6.
Ask parents to send an extra pair of socks to child
care everyday. After
children come in from playing outside, they can change from
wet, snowy socks (somehow snow
and ice always seem to get inside children’s
boots!) into a dry, comfortable pair.
Steps
to Take if A Child or Staff Member has Frostbite. (courtesy
of mayoclinic.com)
- Get
him or her out of the cold immediately.
- Warm
frostbitten hands by tucking them into armpits. If
the nose, ears or face is frostbitten, warm the area by
covering it with dry, gloved hands.
- If
additional warmth is needed, run the affected area under
warm-not hot-water.
Don’t rub the affected area, especially
with snow.
- Get
emergency medical help if numbness continues after
efforts to warm the area have failed.
