If you're going to let the children play outside in the winter weather, use these guidelines provided by Boys Town Pediatrics to keep them safe.
1. Be aware of the temperatures and windchill outside. Experts have broken it down by zone:
GREEN: 30 degrees or higher = the safest temperature to be outdoors
YELLOW: 20 to 30 degrees - Body temperatures can cool quickly
RED: Less than 20 degrees
2. Watch for frostbite. Looks for signs of the early stages of frostbite, like white or grayish appearance in the skin. The skin tissue begins to die when it appears black.
3. Watch for hypothermia. Warning signs include: Body shivers, numb fingers and toes, puffy and blue-looking exposed skin, lack of coordination, muscle aches, difficulty walking, mental confusion, slower breathing and heart rate, irregular or erratic heart beat.
