How to avoid cold weather injuries when hiking with children

Avoid cold weather injuries on winter hikes by
practicing prevention.

While winter hiking with children holds a variety of advantages over summer – no bugs, ability to see through foliage, lack of crowds – they also offer up a variety of dangers, from frostbite to snow blindness.

Fortunately, each of these conditions can be avoided so that children don’t suffer winter’s potentially ill effects. It begins with awareness of the time of cold weather injuries that can occur.

Among them are:
g Frostbite – In extremely cold conditions, the fluid inside the body’s cells can freeze. As freeing, it expands, rupturing and killing cells. You shouldn’t hike in weather cold enough to give kids frostbite; that threshold is reached when the temperature and wind chill are so low that no amount of bundling up will keep a child warm.
g Hypothermia – This dangerous condition happens when heat loss from the body occurs faster than the body can keep up, usually when a person is in wet, cold air or clothes. To avoid, ensure children wear adequate clothing and then layered clothing, including a hat, which can decrease heat loss from body.
g Slips and falls – Icy conditions increase the chances of slips and falls, and snow often conceals hidden dangerous such as sharp plant stems or hard rocks. Keep your pace slower on icy and snow-covered trails and wear boots with traction to avoid falling. Here's how to walk across snow and ice.
g Snow blindness – As the white snow reflects light back, the eye can be oversaturated, leading to a temporary inability to see. To protect the eyes, always wear sunglasses on a winter hike.
g Trench foot – When snow gets into a boot, the foot can become wet and cold, leading to blood vessels constricting in that extremity, resulting in numbness and swelling. Have pants cover rather than be tucked into boots so that moisture doesn’t get to the foot.
g Wind burn – Winter’s dry wind, unhindered by summer’s lush foliage, can dry the oily layer of a child’s skin, resulting in a burn. To prevent burn, rub moisturizer or petroleum jelly on exposed skin before the hike.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

How to avoid, treat a dislocation on a hike

A dislocation occurs when a bone is wrenched out of its natural position. Typically a finger (especially the thumb), a shoulder, or the jaw are affected. On the hiking trail, a knee or a hip also can become dislocated, especially after a fall, the major cause of dislocations.

To avoid a dislocation, don’t fall, make cross-body movements, lift too heavy of objects over one’s head, or slam oneself against solid objects, like a boulder. Kids having fun often do these things.

You can tell if someone has dislocated a bone by their contorted limbs, swelling around the affected joint, a pain that worsens with motion, and bruising.

To treat, have the victim support the injured joint, and immobilize it using a bandage or a sling. If the shoulder is dislocated, secure it against the chest using a bandage. Treat the victim for shock and seek medical attention. Do not attempt to reposition the dislocated bone into its socket, as this may cause further injury.

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

How to avoid fall injuries on hikes with kids

One way to avoid fall injuries is to stay
out of caves.

Fortunately, most falls on the trail are not a big deal. Still, they can lead to everything from a scraped knee to a broken bone.

Children can avoid falls by not running and always watching their step. Usually a fall occurs because a child doesn’t see a tree root or a rock on the trail that they then trip over. In addition, don’t walk along narrow ledges and be cautious when clambering over boulders lest an arm or the head hit a hard stone on the way down. Don’t climb vertically on cliff sides; children easily can lose their grip or loose rock might give way. Climbing is a fun pastime but should be done with the right gear.

Another, more dangerous way falls can occur is when kids enter abandoned mines and wells. Usually mine entrances are boarded up, but even that won’t stop inquisitive children from getting inside, so watch them. Mines often have holes or drop-offs in them that can cause serious injury. Children should be told to stay away from mines and wells.

Also, during autumn and early spring, even if there is no snow on the ground, watch your step on bridges or stepping stones over streams and rivers. Ice can form on them. Ice is typically present during the hours immediately after sunrise.

After a fall, always assess the injury’s seriousness and treat accordingly.

Related articles:
g How to prevent and treat hypothermia in children
g Avoiding and treating child dehydration on the trail
g How to avoid and treat nosebleeds
g How to avoid and treat hiking kids' muscle cramps

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.