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The Dangers of Winter
How to Keep Your Kids Safe
By Barb Eimer
Every November the ritual is the same. I go to the basement, dig up two large Rubbermaid containers marked "Winter" and dump the contents on the floor. Then the matching process begins – are the boots and gloves from last year still happily committed to each other? Even more importantly, are the mates still living in the same house? Sadly, I'm afraid the commitment level found here is about the same as for couples across the country. About half of our winter gear ends up separated.
How does one adequately prepare for winter anyway? Most people know the basics of winter safety, such as dressing appropriately and keeping a blanket in the car, but other concerns aren't answered as easily.
Jared Hochstedler, 27, a father of two who spent the first 17 years of his life in Red Lake, Ontario, Canada, understands cold weather. In a town where the average winter temperature is zero, and nighttime temperatures often fall to 40 or 50 degrees below, it's part of everyday life.
"We used to walk home from school when it was 30 degrees below zero. After that, we'd deliver newspapers. When it dropped to 40 below, then mom would drive us," he says, smiling.
As you might expect, frostbite is a common problem in harsh climates such as Red Lake. Frostbite, as the name implies, occurs when skin begins to freeze. It may be mild, involving only superficial tissues, or severe and extend to the bone.
Hochstedler and his friends used the buddy system to keep an eye on each other. "When your ears or nose turned white, everyone knew you were getting frostbite," he says. The usual remedy for a mild case was to go indoors and warm the affected body part with room temperature water.