Staying Safe in Wintertime | Health Trends in Early Childhood Education (ECE) – January 2026

The Mid-Atlantic region’s grid operator is struggling to secure enough electricity to meet the projected demand from data centers in the coming years, as costs for consumers continue to rise. Pa., N.J. & Del. power outage risk rises amid grid troubles – WHYY

Children enjoy outdoor activities in any weather – but winter storms and freezing temperatures require both outdoor and indoor safety preparations.  The Benefits of Outdoor Play in the Snow for Toddlers and Preschoolers — Ideas and Innovations In Early Childhood Education

Children exposed to extreme cold for too long and without warm, dry, breathable clothing can get frostbite or even life-threatening hypothermia:

• Children are more at risk from the cold than adults because their bodies are smaller and they lose heat more quickly.
• Playing outside in temperatures or wind chills below -15 degrees Fahrenheit should be avoided because skin begins to freeze within minutes!

There’s no set amount of time for children to play outside safely when the weather is cold. When the cold becomes unpleasant, it’s time to go inside. Cold Weather Safety | HeadStart.gov

• If you are unsure if weather conditions are safe for outdoor play, check the Child Care Weather Watch Chart.
• Be prepared to adapt and have an indoor plan for active physical play when outdoor activities aren’t possible. It’s crucial for children to engage in vigorous physical play daily! Check with your program’s policies on weather and outdoor play.

Bundle Up! 

Children are at greater risk of frostbite than adults. “Frost nip” is an early warning sign of frostbite. The skin may feel numb or tingly or appear red (on lighter skin). Have children come indoors periodically to prevent hypothermia or frostbite. Playing Outside in Winter: Tips to Keep Kids Warm & Safe – HealthyChildren.org

• Frostbite occurs mostly on fingers, toes, ears, noses, and cheeks. The affected area becomes very cold, firm, and, depending on the skin’s color, turns white, yellowish-gray, or gray.
• Dress children in layers of warm clothing, including hats, snowpants, good mittens, and waterproof boots. If the top layer gets wet, they will still have a dry layer underneath.
• Tuck scarves inside coats to prevent them from becoming strangulation hazards.
• Even though it’s cold outside, it’s important to stay hydrated. Children are more likely than adults to become dehydrated.

Frostbite Infographic: Preventing Frostbite | Winter Weather | CDC

Prepare for Power Outages and Severe Winter Weather: 

What to Do to Protect Yourself During a Power Outage | Natural Disasters | CDC

• Stay informed about weather conditions and public service announcements that warn of potential health or safety risks for children.
  • 11 9 17 Getting Ready for Winter Weather.pdf
  • nws-resources.pdf
• You may need to move temporarily to an alternate shelter:
  • American Red Cross Locations | Find Your Local Red Cross

Car Seat and Vehicle Safety:

• Car seats and winter coats don’t mix. Bulky coats can compress in a crash and create a loose car seat harness. Instead, lay the jacket or a blanket over children once you’ve safely strapped them into their car seat.
• Never leave a vehicle running inside a garage. If you need to warm up your vehicle, remove it from the garage as soon as you start it to avoid the risk of Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning.

Staying Safe Indoors

Home Fire Safety:

• Set up a 3-foot “kid-free zone” around space heaters and open fires.
• Remember to turn portable space heaters off when leaving the room.
• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, including portable space heaters, fireplaces, wood stoves, and furnaces.

Safe Sleep:

• A safe sleep area can help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome(SIDS) and other sleep-related deaths, such as accidental suffocation.
• To keep babies warm, dress them in a wearable blanket, also known as a sleep sack.
• Avoid overheating and do not bundle babies
• Keep babies’ cribs, bassinets, portable cribs, or portable play yards free of stuffed animals and blankets.
• A firm mattress covered with a tight-fitting crib sheet is all that an infant needs to sleep safely.
  • Promoting Safe Sleep Environments for Infants | HeadStart.gov

Prevent Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning:

• Each year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning not linked to fires, more than 100,000 visit an emergency department, and more than 14,000 are hospitalized.
• Vent all fuel-burning equipment to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
• Install and maintain CO alarms.

Know the Signs and Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning:

• The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion.
• People who are sleeping can die from CO poisoning before ever having symptoms.
• If someone shows signs of having carbon monoxide poisoning, call 911 or your local Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 or consult a health care professional right away. For more information, visit Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.

• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): The Power of Play: A Pediatric Role in Enhancing Development in Young Children | Pediatrics | American Academy of Pediatrics
• Early Childhood Education News: The Benefits of Outdoor Play in the Snow for Toddlers and Preschoolers — Ideas and Innovations In Early Childhood Education