While some people shy away from the outdoors in the cold, the hail and hearty love a great snowy adventure. Whether it’s a day trip or a more extended excursion, here are some tips for keeping safe in the winter cold:

Outdoor Winter Safety Starts With Education

The key to keeping your family safe is to be educated about the importance of winter safety. Make sure your family understands how the cold can be very dangerous because of hypothermia and frostbite due to prolonged exposure.

Do not allow children to play in the snow for longer than three or four hours at a time.

Over-exertion is also an important safety concern for adults (unfortunately, each year people have heart attacks while they're out in the snow, because they over-work themselves). When shoveling snow, make sure you take an occasional break from this type of hard work.

Preparing Kids for Cold Weather Fun

Before letting them go out and play, tell your kids how to stay warm, and see to it that they are wearing the proper clothing (including hats and gloves); also make sure you know where they are playing (not by a frozen creek or lake unless you are sure it is solid).

Sledding and skiing accidents can and do occur each year, so just make sure you tell your kids to use common sense and to be careful.  

Supervising youngsters is really the best way to do this, but if you have independent teenagers you won't be invited to the slopes... encourage them to make good decisions and always think things through!

Stay Warm and Dry - The Importance of Winter Clothing for Safety

Layers. The first and foremost key to having a good experience outside in the cold, winter snow is to stay warm and dry. The best way to do this is to dress in layers. Wool is definitely better than cotton at whisking away moisture from the skin, so if you have wool socks or a sweater to put on, wear them both. (Polystyrene is another material that works quite well.)

Moisture doesn’t only come from the snow, it comes from your sweat, so it’s important that you do not over-heat and get too sweaty and then cool down.

Hat and Gloves. Heat escapes from the body if you do not trap it in first! So this is why it’s so important to wear a nice hat and a pair of winter gloves. Thin cotton gloves won’t cut it out in the snow—you need something much heavier, like ski gloves or thick wool gloves.

Thermals. Another good option is to wear thermal underwear (“Long Johns”). “Thermals,” as they are known, work wonders at keeping your body’s natural heat trapped in.

Jacket and Pants. For your outer layer of clothing, wear something that is water resistant. Snow Pants or Ski Pants work best (and a waterproof Snow Jacket to go along with them), but if you don’t have those, you can wear windbreaker style pants.

Boots and Socks. There’s nothing like a nice pair of dry boots if you’re out in the cold. Waterproof boots work best. Double up on the socks (if you don’t have a nice, thick wool pair) and dress in layers so you can take them off if you get too warm!

Winter Survival Kit – Outfit Your Car For The Unexpected

Having a winter survival kit in your car if you are going to be driving, especially in remote locations, is probably the last thing you think you will need. Most people probably don’t have one, but if end up in a situation where you need one, you’ll be a hero!

Your survival kit can be used in many situations, not just if you break down or get stuck in the snow. For example, it can come in handy if you get in a jam camping, skiing, sledding, hiking, even in the summer time you might find a need for some of the stuff you have in a survival kit.

Here’s what to put in your survival kit:

• Flashlight (rechargeable works best—or at least bring extra batteries)
• Warm blanket (just throw an extra in the trunk of the car)
• Some warm clothing, especially extra socks and gloves
• Non-Perishable Food items
• First Aid Kit
• Flares (for alerting other drivers of roadside accidents)
• Fire Starter, Lighter and/or Flint
• Multi-purpose Tool (Swiss Army Knife)
• Length of Rope

Playing in the snow is an experience that every kid must enjoy!

(At least those who are lucky enough to live where it falls in some amount.) Safety is important in all outdoor activities, but with the cold of the snow the stakes are higher. If you take the proper precautions and avoid taking unnecessary risks, there won’t be any unfortunately and life changing accidents.

GettingOutside.com encourages parents to take an active roll in the education of their kids. Guide them to proper safety and make sure they are prepared.