It’s not just you — it’s extremely cold out there.
Unless you’re part of the 10 percent of the U.S. that didn’t face below-freezing temperatures at the start of the new year, you’ve been experiencing a lot of cold weather. And this week doesn’t bode so well weather-wise either.
Dr. Alison Tothy, a pediatric emergency medicine physician in the University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences Division — and no stranger to the cold — shared how you and your family can appropriately bundle up this (still early) winter season:
Be dressed appropriately. Think hats, gloves and multiple layers, Tothy said. This is particularly true if you’re out and about, taking public transportation or even driving. If you get stranded somewhere, you’ll need the right layers and protection to endure the cold longer than you expect.
The most common cases Tothy sees in the emergency room are related to cold exposure, hypothermia and frostbite. She also said that people who don’t have adequate heat in their homes turn on their oven or gas stove as an alternative. This is “extremely dangerous,” Tothy said, and can result in carbon monoxide poisoning. Children are more susceptible to this, and by the time adults exhibit symptoms such as having a headache or feeling like they have the flu, children are probably further along in their exposure.
Pay attention to your kids when they play outside. In addition to the snow pants, boots, hats and gloves, kids should wear if they’re playing outside in cold weather, parents should be mindful of how long the children are playing outside. Tothy said it’s important kids head inside every 10 to 15 minutes to warm up.
Take appropriate car seat precautions. It turns out that car seats aren’t designed to have bulky layers underneath their straps, something Tothy thinks parents and caregivers don’t know. She recommended strapping in children with minimal layers, then putting on a snow suit designed to go over car seat straps. Parents can also add blankets as a means of covering up.
Cotton is not the best material for wintry attire. “It traps cold,” Tothy said. “It doesn’t insulate very well.” Acrylics or wool are better choices than cotton for hats, gloves and layers. This is particularly true for kids if they’re playing outside and returning inside wet and soggy.
When possible, stay inside. “The colder it gets, the less we should be outside,” she said. “But the reality is that people are. They have to get to work. They have to get to school.” Experiencing the cold is a part of life, so just protect yourself as best you can by wearing layers, staying warm and limiting your exposure.
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How You and Your Family Can Stay Warm During Exceedingly Cold Weather originally appeared on usnews.com
