WINTER SAFETY TIPS

The following winter safety tips form part of a larger brochure from Edmonton Community Services entitled Priceless Fun. Download the PDF here.

Stay Safe and Sound this Winter

❆ Keep children warm . A number of light or medium weight layers of clothing are warmer than a single layer — for both you and your children.

❆ Children can strangle on a cord or scarf . Remove all cords and drawstrings from their clothing . Use a neck warmer instead of a scarf.

❆ Pack extra clothes in case the ones you are wearing become wet.

❆ Wear sunscreen on sunny days.

❆ Children should wear a helmet when ice skating or tobogganing.

❆ Do not try to cross ponds, creeks or rivers unless a sign says it’s safe to do so .

❆ Bring water and high-energy food for snacking — candy, nuts or granola bars.

Hypothermia is a condition where your body looses heat faster than it can make it .

❆ Watch for the “umbles”… . stumbles, mumbles, fumbles & grumbles. This includes uncontrolled shivering, weakness, exhaustion and difficulty with decision-making.

Frostbite is the freezing of body parts — most often the nose, cheeks, ears, toes and ingers .

❆ Watch for red, swollen skin that feels like it is tingling.

In both situations seek shelter immediately and obtain medical advice.

When tobogganing or sledding:

❆ Teach children to kneel or sit down on their toboggan .

❆ Make sure the route is clear before going down a hill . Remember, the people below
you have the right-of-way .

❆ Once you reach the bottom, quickly move out of the way.

❆ Remember to slide down the middle of the hill, climb up the side and  
watch up the hill .

❆ Always stay in control of your sled .

When ice-skating:

❆ Obey all signs that are posted .

❆ Skate in the same direction and at the same speed as the crowd .

❆ Move to the side if you are unable to keep up with the flow of the crowd .

❆ Remember ice on lakes, ponds, rivers, etc ., needs to be 4”-6” thick to be safe

❆ Only maintained ice is safe ice .