Children are significantly more resistant to cold than adults. But this does not mean that they cannot freeze their ears or fingers.
January 27 2019
In order for the walk to pass without consequences, you need to correctly dress the children and be able to provide first aid. How to do it, says Julia Sivertsova, pediatrician, candidate of medical sciences.
Before going out into the cold, eat, do not forget to take a thermos with sweet tea – glucose restores energy. Better to have a blanket and woolen socks with you to replace. Up to -10 ° C, you can walk with a child for up to two hours, with an infant – for up to an hour. Is the temperature a little lower? If you are not going to actively move, do not stay outside for more than 40 minutes. When the thermometer shows -15 ° C, you should refrain from walking. Have you made up your mind? Then watch the color of the child’s complexion and his behavior, it will pull off sluggish – run home.
The task of the parents is to make sure that the child does not freeze. It is important that it is not too hot and that you sweat – the risk of getting sick is higher. Follow the principle of layering. Ideally, when there are three layers – for moisture evaporation, for thermal insulation and for protection from wind, snow and rain. The best outerwear is membrane fabric or fabric with windproof and water repellent properties. Buy thermal underwear for your child, it should fit snugly around the body. Get thermal insoles and don’t forget about mittens, a hat and a scarf. Remember: while riding on sleds and tubes, the baby practically does not move, so you need to dress him warmly.
A rule of thumb for dressing your toddler is: as many layers of clothing as you wear, plus one more
Clothes for outdoor games:
1st layer – cotton underwear with added wool, for older children – thermal underwear made of natural fibers with synthetic thread.
2-th – a suit made of cotton with viscose, wool or wool with acrylic.
3-th – overalls or jacket with thermal insulation, for example isosoft, and lined with fleece.
For leisurely walks:
1st layer – linen from 100% cotton, at temperatures below 5 degrees – with the addition of wool.
2-th – pure wool, wool with viscose or acrylic.
3-th – outerwear made of padding polyester or down, sheepskin coat made of natural sheepskin.
Frostbite is nothing more than a burn, only cold. Most often, it affects the ears, nose, chin and fingertips – in children, limbs are poorly supplied with blood. First, there is a burning sensation, tingling sensation, pain in the affected area, then it loses sensitivity. A clearly localized pale area is visible on the skin. Do not rub it with snow, there is a risk of damage to blood vessels or infection through micro-dents. On the street, apply a dry cloth to the affected area, put plastic bags on your hands for thermal insulation.
Bring the baby into a warm place, gently rub it with a woolen blanket. Do not lubricate your skin with oil, grease, petroleum jelly, or alcohol. The color has not recovered? Immerse in warm water, increase the temperature gradually – from 35 degrees to 40. In case of a serious burn, if blisters appear, the skin becomes cyanotic, you cannot rub – apply a heat-insulating bandage and call a doctor.
Winter walks, especially in windy weather, can turn into hypothermia. At risk are children who are inactive, with weakened immunity, congenital defects and craniocerebral injuries. The main symptoms are pallor, muscle tremors, drowsiness, and confused speech. The child should be undressed immediately, rubbed with a soft cloth and wrapped, put a change of clothes on the battery or iron it with an iron to warm it up. Give your baby some sweet hot tea, you can wrap it in a heated blanket or put a heating pad on your feet. When it gets better, make a bath, the water should be lukewarm, add boiling water little by little. Monitor your pulse so that there is no interruption in your heart rate.
If your body temperature drops below 35 degrees, and breathing and heartbeat become more frequent, call an ambulance. Did the child fall through the ice? To avoid hypothermia, strip him and give him your jacket or sweater, and get to your home or food service as soon as possible to get a hot drink. No opportunity? Call the rescue service.