With the approach of winter and cold weather, there are a number of important issues that come up at this time. They primarily revolve around the fact that we are now more in the house than out during these upcoming months. As a result of being “trapped” in the house, we really have to try to prevent illness and accidents in our own homes.

With cold weather comes dry weather. To compound that, we are inside (with the heat on), and all of these things combine to dry us out. Our skin itches, our noses feel sticky, and our lips get chapped. To help prevent us from losing water from our bodies, try the following things:

• Keep the house humidified (either through your furnace system, or by buying a portable cool humidifier to improve the dry air

• Don’t stay in a hot shower for too long (this will dry out your skin as well)

• Use a skin moisturizer after a shower too preserve the natural skin oils

• Apply Chap Stick to lips and the skin around your lips before going out in the cold, and prior to bed

• Blow your nose; don’t pick it. The dry heat can cause a dry nose, and even nose bleeds

• Keep the temperature between 62.2 °F to 70.6 ° F (18 °C to 22 °C) and the humidity 45% - 65%

Being trapped in the house also brings other challenges, especially with the holidays coming up. Kids won’t be as well supervised during a party atmosphere, as they would be otherwise. Make absolutely sure the little ones don’t wander in to any of the following danger zones unsupervised:

• The toilet (don’t laugh, kids can drown there, too)

• The bathtub (even with just a little bit of water in it)

• The washing machine (the sounds and motion attract little ones)

• Pails of water (even 1 inch of water can drown a toddler)

Youngsters will also be looking for more things to keep them amused. They will open cabinets, drawers, suitcases, purses, etc. They will crawl up on chairs and counters. They will eat or drink anything that looks appetizing: pills, colorful fluids, and even plants. That can mean an accidental poisoning (see http://www.ipl.org/youth/poisonsafe/).

Accidental poisonings can be anything from Drano to Grandma’s heart pills. Make sure that purses, handbags, and medicine holders are well out of reach of the little ones. If half filled glasses of alcohol are left around, you can believe that the kids will try to drink them. They will even eat cigarette butts!

The fastest and best way for you to know what your kids can get their hands on is to get on all fours and look at things from their viewpoint. Once you’re down there, try and find anything that your kids could touch, grab or eat. Then, get it out of there!

Dr. Mike (Pappas) is a local pediatrician who is board certified in both general pediatrics as well as pediatric critical care medicine. Questions may be directed to him at http://www.intensivecaring.com/AskDrMike.htm.

This article was reviewed 04/23/2010 07:24 AM

The Children's Pavilion   4405 N. Holland-Sylvania avenue   Suite 102    Toledo, OH 43623    Phone: 419 841 0772 

© cic 1999-2010