Information from the Nurse

I hope students and families had a nice winter break and have gotten back into the swing of things for the second half of our school year. The winter season offers many wonderful opportunities for children to go outside and play, but the low temperatures can also lead to dangerous conditions for children. Here are some helpful tips to keep kids safe and warm in the colder weather:

1. Layer up! Cold can cause frostbite (injury to body tissue caused by freezing of

the skin and underlying tissue). Be sure to dress your child in several layers, making

sure their head, neck, and hands are covered. Rule of thumb is to dress your children in

one more layer than an adult would wear.

2. Beware of clothing hazards with small children. Scarves and hood strings can

strangle smaller children or get wrapped around extremities causing circulation to be

compromised.

4. Prevent nosebleeds. If your child is prone to minor winter nosebleeds, use a cold air

humidifier in their room and saline nose drops to keep their nose moist.

5. Keep children hydrated. It’s easier for kids to know to drink fluids when they are hot

and sweating, but harder when the weather is colder. In the drier winter months, kids

lose more water through their breath. Offer plenty of water, juice, warm drinks, and

soups frequently to encourage hydration.

I hope that everyone enjoys the winter months in a safe and healthy way!