The Body Healthy
Kids don’t want to come in from playing when it’s warm outside and the sun is high in the sky. Getting them to do so when there’s a sled and a yard full of fluffy white powder involved is even more difficult.
But for the next few months, parents have to be conscious of how long their children are playing out in the cold. Frostbite, a condition that occurs to skin when it is exposed too long to low temperatures, must be dealt with quickly in order to prevent long-term tissue damage.
According to KidsHealth, a website that provides medical information in layman’s terms to parents, teens and kids, kids are at greater risk for frostbite than adults, both because they lose heat from their skin more rapidly than adults and because they may be reluctant to leave their winter fun to go inside and warm up.
The website advises that parents dress their kids in layers, make sure they come indoors regularly, and be mindful that frostnip is the first warning sign.
Frostnip, which can be treated at home, “usually affects areas that are exposed to the cold, such as the cheeks, nose, ears, fingers and toes, leaving them red and numb or tingly,” says the website.
At the first sign of frostnip, parents should bring their children inside, remove their wet clothes and place the chilled body parts in warm – not hot – water for 20 to 30 minutes until the sensation returns. KidsHealth warns parents not to let their children control the water, because their numb hands can’t effectively gauge the temperature.
Frostbite, which KidsHealth describes as a condition that needs immediate medical attention, is characterized by white, waxy skin that feels numb and hard. After putting the child into dry clothing, parents should call an ambulance or drive directly to the hospital.
If immediate medical attention is unavailable, the website recommends that parents give children a warm drink and begin first-aid treatment:
- Immerse frozen areas in warm water (around 100° Fahrenheit) or apply warm compresses for 30 minutes. If warm water is not available, wrap gently in warm blankets.
- Do not use direct heat such as a fire or heating pad.
- Do not thaw the area if it is at risk for refreezing, which may cause severe tissue damage.
- Do not rub frostbitten skin or rub snow on it.
KidsHealth warns that rewarming will be accompanied by a burning sensation. Skin may blister and swell and may turn red, blue, or purple.
“When skin is pink and no longer numb, the area is thawed. Apply sterile dressing to the area, placing it between fingers and toes if they are affected. Try not to disturb any blisters,” says the website.
Wrap rewarmed areas to prevent refreezing, and keep the thawed areas as still as possible. Depending on the temperature, frostnip and frostbite can occur within minutes of exposure.
Katrina T. Gathers
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