Minnesota winters are a force to be reckoned with. Snow, cold temperatures, and biting wind chills can be uncomfortable–even harmful– to anybody, but especially children as they wait for the school bus.
Because of their larger surface area to weight ratio, children lose heat from their skin faster than adults, which makes them more prone to frostbite. Kids also tend to ignore the signs of the cold more than adults do.
At Spanier Bus Service, we take children’s safety very seriously. That’s why we wanted to help you keep your child safe and warm when the temperatures dip below freezing. Here are a few important precautions to take:
- Cover Their Extremities. The extremities of the body (hands, feet, nose, and ears) are most vulnerable to the cold. Keeping these covered is vital to avoiding frostbite.
- Dress Them in Layers. Try and choose natural insulating fabrics to keep your kids warm like wool, silk or fleece. Start by dressing your child in an undershirt, a regular shirt, and a coat to have as many layers as possible. Wearing snow pants over their regular pants will help warm them up. Add an extra pair of socks if it’s extremely cold.
- Keep Them Indoors as Long as Possible. The longer they’re inside, the better. Buses are on time more often than not, so your kids should be able to time when they have to leave the house.
- Wear Mittens. Wearing mittens keeps your hands warmer than gloves because your fingers aren’t separated. When your fingers are separated, they are more prone to frostbite.
- When in Doubt, Add Another Layer. If your kids can wear a hooded sweatshirt under their winter coat, it will keep them even warmer. Always dress your child in one more layer than you would dress yourself.
- Keep Them Dry. If your child’s gloves or hat gets wet, replace it immediately or have them pack a backup. Teach your kids to dry their mittens and socks as soon as they get inside. It’s best to avoid long contact with wet clothing.
- Plan Ahead. To make things go faster in the morning, lay out all their clothes the night before. That way, your kids don’t have to guess where everything is in the morning and waste time. The best part is, you’ll know how many layers they’re wearing at the bus stop.
Spanier Bus Service hopes everyone stays warm this winter at the bus stop. Our drivers strive to keep your children safe – on and off the bus.
