Keeping Kids Safe in Extreme Winter Weather

With extreme winter weather conditions happening across the country, it is crucial to ensure that babies and young children, who are especially vulnerable to the cold, are kept safe. Depending on the temperature, outdoor play may not be an option. “If (it’s) below -15 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s a good day to play inside. The risk of hypothermia and frostbite is in minutes of exposure,” said Tracy Butler, M.D., a pediatrician and medical director at Pediatrix® Primary + Urgent Care of Colorado. “Proper clothing and time limits can help avoid this complication.” It’s also critical that the sleep environment is safe. Dr. Butler said that for babies, it’s safest to keep blankets, quilts, pillows, bumpers, sheepskins and other loose bedding out. “While they are warm, they are associated with suffocation deaths. It is better to use sleep clothing like one-piece sleepers or wearable blankets,” she said.

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