6 Winter Car Safety Tips
By Noemi Adame, MD, FAAP
A native Texas girl moves from San Antonio to small town Culver, IN one glorious Lake Max summer. She purchases an adorably sassy Mazda 5, similar to the car that never failed her in Texas for years, deluding herself into thinking that this car would maneuver three inches of snow on the long, uneven, gravel driveway leading to her 120 year-old farmhouse in rural Marshall County. One winter season later, after her tween son has to push the car down the icy driveway for the third time so she can get to work, she buys a Subaru with all-wheel drive. That girl was me. And that is the story of how I learned the importance of all-wheel drive when living in a small, rural Midwestern town. Here are 6 additional tips on how to make sure you keep your children and family safe in the car this winter.
Pack an emergency winter kit for your car. You can buy a ready-made kit or better yet make one yourself, so you know exactly what is in it and how to use the items. The kit should include blankets, dry clothing stored in a water-proof container, hats, gloves, bottled water, and non-perishable snacks in case you experience an on-road emergency. You can also use this in case your child gets wet during a winter outing such as sledding down the Woodcraft hill. Wet clothing is a risk factor for hypothermia.
Store the carrier portion of the infant seat inside the house when not in use. Small bodies lose heat quickly. Keeping the car seat at room temperature will ensure your baby doesn’t lose too much body heat.
Use a coat or blanket over the straps of the car seat. Bulky clothing, including winter coats and snowsuits, can compress in a crash and leave the straps too loose to restrain your child, leading to increased risk of injury. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends dressing your baby in thinner layers and wrapping a coat or blanket around your baby over the buckled harness straps to keep him nice and warm. Make sure the blanket doesn’t cover the baby’s face or mouth and that it is easily removable, so your child doesn’t get too hot after the car warms up.
Layer up. Don’t forget hats, mittens, socks or booties. These help babies stay warm without interfering with the car seat straps. As a general rule, children need one more layer than adults in cold weather. If you are wearing a hat and gloves, your baby needs them too.
Give yourself a time buffer. The smaller your baby, the more stuff you need to assemble before you head out, and the more likely they will not be cooperative as you try to get them ready. It is a law of parenting! To be safe, head out earlier than usual and drive slowly and with extra caution.
Never leave your baby alone in the car. This rule is as important during the winter as it is during the summer. Hypothermia sets in quickly and is dangerous for babies.
Whether you are headed on a winter weekend getaway in Northern Indiana or staying close to Culver, be sure to implement these tips before you get in the car with your family and children.
For more information, visit http://www.HealthyChildren.org to find other ways to keep your children healthy year-round.
