Kids & Cold

Kyoto: Hiking from Kibune to Kurama

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Watch for frostbite
Fingers, toes, ears and nose—those are the areas most likely to be frostbitten, and children are the ones most likely to fall victim. On especially cold and/or windy days, add a face mask, or a scarf wrapped bridge-of-nose-high, to the usual hat and mittens regimen. Genuinely frostbitten tissue appears white or patchy white. The area is numb; there is no sensation. A child complaining of painful or "tingly" fingers, nose, ears, etc. may be in danger of frostbite, but doesn't have it just yet. Hold your hand over the area to warm it and get the youngster to a warm place indoors.

Never rub a frostbitten or suspected area vigorously or with snow. You could damage the tissue irreversibly. Immerse the area in water that just barely feels warm to you—it should not be hot—and call a doctor.

Beware shivers and grumbles
"I'm tired, I'm cold, I want to go home." Most kids get grumbly at some point on a hike, but in winter it's wise to give their grousing extra heed. Fatigue can be a predecessor of hypothermia; irritability can be a symptom.

Listen to your own body, too. Turn around if you feel tired or cold or are shivering. Shivering is the body's attempt to warm itself; it is a physical cry for help, more heat. Now's the time to settle into a cozy chair with a warm drink and a crackling blaze in the fireplace.

By exercising common sense and caution, you and your family can explore the winter woods without worry. So go ahead; don't let concern for the cold keep you from enjoying the "other" outdoor season. Have a great day—lots of them—in winter's wonderland.