Winter Fun… Staying Safe

Playing in winter is lots of fun.

Dressing for Winter Weather It is important to keep your head warm in cold weather because most of the heat you lose is thru the top of your head. But, you should wear a hat instead of a hood because hoods can make it hard to see around, especially if you are crossing the road.

Dressing for Winter Weather Warm Mittens Thin Gloves A Neck Warmer A Long Scarf instead of

Dressing for Winter Weather Warm Boots Shoes or Sneakers A Warm Jacket A Sweater or Hoodie instead of

What Can Happen if You Don’t Dress for the Weather? Frostnip On your cheeks, nose, ears, fingers, and toes Skin is red, and numb or tingly, but still soft to touch Make sure you can feel a pinch; if you cannot, you should be seen by a healthcare worker. Frostbite Frozen skin and tissue (deeper than the skin) Feeling of burning, numbness, tingling, itching, or cold sensation, and skin is hard to touch

This person didn’t wear a hat.

This person didn’t wear their mittens!

Frostnip and Frostbite What do I do? Go inside to get warm. Tell an older person or adult. Remove all wet clothing. Warm by contact with another body part, for example, put your hands in your armpits. Use WARM water, never HOT water. Don’t rub the frozen area, it could damage the skin. If the numbness, tingling, or pain don’t improve, see a healthcare professional.

HYPOTHERMIA We are mammals. Our body temperature needs to be about 37 degrees Celcius. We are not like snakes and alligators whose temperature changes depending on the weather. Hypothermia occurs when there is a dangerous drop in our body temperature.

Shivering Really tired Clumsy Confused or talking “funny” How do I know if I have hypothermia?

PLAYING OUTSIDE SAFELY NEVER throw snowballs above someone’s waist. NEVER throw snowballs at vehicles. NEVER stick your tongue or finger on cold metal or an icicle. If this does happen use warm water to get unstuck.

Do not eat ice or snow Even though icicles or snow might look really clean, there can be lots of dirt and germs in them. If you melt some ice or snow you can sometimes see all the things that are hiding in it. X

ROAD SAFETY Snow piled high on side of the road makes it hard for drivers to see you. Snowbanks may hide you when trying to cross the street, look out around the snowbank and make sure the driver sees you.

ROAD SAFETY You should never climb mounds of snow by the road because you might fall into the road. A driver might not see you or they might not be able to stop in time. Snow and ice on the roads makes it harder for drivers to stop their car or truck quickly.

ROAD SAFETY IF you have to walk on the road, walk on the left side, facing the traffic. Get out of the way of cars and trucks. Don’t assume they see you.

ROAD SAFETY Before crossing the street, you must look left, then right, and then left again to see if any cars or trucks are coming. Cross where there is a crossing guard if you can.

ROAD SAFETY Vehicles driving on snow-covered roads are quieter than vehicles on pavement and they may not be able to stop fast. Wear light and/or reflective clothing when it’s dark outside so drivers can see you.

Waiting for the School Bus Allow extra time to get to your bus stop. Wear bright clothing so the bus can see you in the early morning. Stand away from where the bus stops. Buses need extra room to stop.

Can you name some things hidden under the snow that could be dangerous?

Why is this fort dangerous? Right! The roof could fall in and bury you under the snow. And, it looks like it might be close to the road or driveway.

Why is this fort safe? Right! There’s no roof to fall on you and it is away from the road. Why is this fort safe? Right! There’s no roof to fall on you and it is away from the road.

Sliding Fun

Kneeling or sitting is best…NOT sliding on your stomach head-first. Why not? Right, you need to protect your head and brain. Look out for the other guy - move quickly to the side and walk up and away from the sliding path after finishing a run. Wear a neck warmer or make sure your scarf is tucked in so it can’t get caught on something and maybe choke you. Always look down the hill to make sure the coast is clear to go down safely.

Tips for Skiing Fun Take lessons when you first learn to ski. Have an adult check your equipment to make sure it’s in good condition and fits properly. Never ski alone. Wear sunglasses or goggles with UV protection Wear sunscreen to protect against sunburns.

More Skiing Tips Stay on marked trails and follow rules of the slopes. Know what the signs mean for level of difficulty. Watch for rocks, trees, ice patches and changes in weather Quit before you get tired and before it gets dark.

What should you always wear when skating?

On the Ice - Ponds, Lakes, Rivers Always have an older person or adult check the thickness of the ice before walking or skating on it. It should be tested in a few different spots. You cannot always tell how thick the ice is by the colour.

Do you know how thick the ice should be before you go on it? Ice should be at least 20cm. That’s the length of a new pencil.

Do you know what to do if you, or someone you are with, fall through the ice?

Number the Pictures

Here they are in the proper order:

You may have had a slip and fall on ice like our friend here.

You've probably bumped your head before too. Ouch! If someone pushed you hard from behind playing sports or you stopped quickly in a car or on a bike, your head might snap back and forth. Some falls, bumps, and movements are worse than others and your brain hits the inside of your skull. This can hurt your brain and temporarily change the way your brain works. If that happens, the brain injury is called a concussion.

Helmets are important to use to help keep your brain safe. You still might hurt your head, but not as badly. They don’t work if you don’t wear them!

If you’ve had a fall, bump, or sudden stop, you should tell your parent, teacher, coach, or other adult if you feel any of these things: Your head hurts. You feel dizzy. You feel like you are going to throw up. You have a hard time walking or running because you feel like you are wobbly and might fall.

Winter Jokes Where does a snowman keep his money? In a snow bank. What do you call a snowman in the summer? A puddle! What do snowmen eat for breakfast? Frosted Flakes.

Have a safe and fun-filled winter!