5 winter safety hazards for parents to watch out for

Winter is a great season for family time, from having fun in the snow to enjoying cosy nights in playing games and watching films. But just like in the summer months, there are also a number of hazards for parents to watch out for at this time of year. These hazards can occur both outside the home in the chilly weather, as well as inside from heat sources.

Fortunately with some careful planning, and by making sure to monitor your little one throughout the day, you can reduce these risks and spend more time just enjoying the season. To help you keep your children safe in the winter months, the child safety experts Safetots are here to share five everyday hazards to watch out for, and tips for preventing and avoiding them.

Your winter home heating

Keeping your home warm is important for keeping the whole family safe and healthy at this time of year. But heat sources can actually be a hazard for your children, which is why it’s vital that you do all you can to protect them from these dangers. This is particularly important for households with a fireplace. To keep your kids safe, always use a fire guard. Even once a fire is finished, a fire guard should still be in place in case there is hot wood that your child wants to grab.

Another hazard that most households with children will likely face is hot radiators, which can burn your kids’ skin. To prevent this, invest in radiator guards. They come in many different sizes so you should be able to find one for your radiators, and there are aesthetically pleasing options too so they won’t stick out like a sore thumb in your home. As small kids are lower to the ground, they’re also more likely to grab onto radiator pipes, so you should cover these with pipe insulation.

Clothing hazards

Dressing your child up in warm and cosy clothes is important for keeping them toasty and keeping cold’s at bay. But cold weather clothing can come with its own set of hazards, so it’s important to make sure you’re prepared for keeping your child safe in their winter outfit. The following are some of the most common hazards you may find with winter clothes and ways you can avoid them:

Scarves: These come with a risk of strangulation if your child pulls on the scarf too tightly or becomes stuck. Snoods are a great alternative for keeping your child’s neck warm without this risk.
Hoodies with drawstrings: Just like with scarves, these also come with a risk of strangulation. Simply opt for hoodies without the drawstrings, or remove them to eliminate this hazard completely.
Boots: Boots that are too tight can lead to small problems, like blisters and sore feet, as well as more long term issues like hammer toe. Try using a shoe stretcher to make the boots long enough for your child. If this doesn’t work, simply size up. To make sure you get a well-fitting pair, get your child’s feet measured in your local shoe shop.
Dark clothes: As the nights draw in earlier, wearing dark clothing outside is more of a risk for your kids. Try to dress them in bright clothing, and always invest in a reflective jacket if you can.

The outdoors

Whether you’re enjoying a winter stroll with the family or simply walking to school, knowing how to keep your child safe from outdoor winter risks is crucial. Of course, one of the main jobs is keeping them warm outside. As well as dressing them in the appropriate winter weather clothing, you should also teach your kid how they can warm themselves up, by explaining how moving vigorously can keep you warm, and making sure they keep their hat on at all times as most heat is lost from the head.

You should also make sure your child is prepared for being outside in dark weather as the days become shorter. As well as reflective clothing, you can kit them out with a reflective school bag and make sure they have a torch on them at all times.

Playing in the snow

One of the most fun things about this season for kids (and for some adults too) is the snow. There’s no reason that your child can’t enjoy spending time making snow angels or creating snow people, as long as you work to keep them safe. You should supervise them at all times when in the snow. This is especially the case when playing more physical games like snowball fights. Snow and ice can actually burn the skin if exposed for a long period of time, so you should keep an eye on your kids to make sure their mittens and gloves are on at all times when handling the snow.

If you plan on doing some sledding, you should always have a responsible adult accompany young children to keep them secure. Kids of around seven and up can go sledding by themselves, but still under an adult’s watchful eye. You should also teach them how to sled safely, by keeping their face forward, keeping arms and legs inside the sled, and showing them how to roll off a sled that won’t stop.

Overheating

While your top priority will no doubt be keeping your little one warm in the winter, it’s possible to take this too far which creates the hazard of overheating. Going straight from the freezing outdoors to the inside of a warm car or house without taking their jacket off can cause your young child to overheat and leave them vulnerable to dehydration.

To avoid the risk of overheating, dress them in several layers instead of one bulky coat so they can slowly adjust by taking off one layer at a time. You should also avoid warming them up rapidly after being outdoors by giving them a hot water bottle or sitting them near a heat source, as this can warm them up too quickly and leave them overheated before they realise. And to avoid dehydration, always keep a fresh bottle of water at hand.

Peter Boast, Managing Director at Safetots comments:

“While there are a lot of potential hazards for children in the winter months thanks to the cold weather, it isn’t too difficult for parents to prepare for and mitigate these risks. Dressing them in weather-appropriate clothing and keeping a watchful eye over them on snow days can go a long way to both keeping them safe and giving yourself peace of mind.

“Aside from supervising your child, keeping them safe in the home at this time of year can be easy with the right tools. Fire guards and radiator covers are ideal for preventing burns for children of all ages, as well as pets. And if you want extra security, place a play den far from these heat sources to keep them out of harms way.”