After last February’s big freeze and mass power outages, it’s understandable to be a little uneasy about the forecast. But thankfully, this cold plunge isn’t expected to last as long as last year’s storm.

Still, it’s a good idea to have a plan in place.

Take these tips from MedStar on what a winter weather plan should include:

• Make sure that you have important phone numbers, including for your health care providers, pharmacy, and veterinarian.
• Assure you have enough medication for several days on hand.
• If you rely on medical devices in your home, have a backup plan in case you lose power for an extended period of time, such as a backup generator or battery pack and backup oxygen bottles.
• Have a communication plan for your family.
• Know how to get reliable information during the storm.
• Gather supplies in case you need to stay home for several days without power.

If the power does go out, be very cautious of carbon monoxide.

During last February’s winter storm, Cook Children’s treated 13 patients for carbon monoxide poisoning in one night. Sam Selby, D.O., worked the overnight shift in the emergency department on Feb. 15, 2021 and saw families use propane or diesel-burning engines that are meant for outside use with adequate ventilation.

In this Checkup Newsroom article, he described families using generators inside or too close to their homes or garages to keep warm. Generators emit fumes and can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

“Carbon monoxide poisoning prevents your blood from being able to bind to or carry oxygen. You suffocate while you are still breathing,” Dr. Selby explained. 

Here are some additional ways to keep your family safe during this time:

• Don’t use anything such as a BBQ grill or propane tank to heat your home.
• Don’t run a vehicle inside of a garage attached to your home.
• Don’t heat your home with a gas oven or stovetop.
• Don’t burn charcoal inside of your home. 
• Do seek medical attention if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Do ensure the carbon monoxide detectors in your home are properly functioning and installed in areas that will wake you if it alarms.
• Do check for local resources, such as warming shelters, to keep your family safe. 

The best bet during winter weather is to stay off the roads. 

If you have to travel, have a plan in place to keep yourself and your child safe.

Proper car seat use is one of the most critical ways parents can keep their young children safe when driving during inclement weather conditions.

“The injuries we see from car wrecks are because parents are making the same mistakes over and over with car seats,” explains Sharon Evans, trauma injury prevention coordinator at Cook Children’s.

She reminds parents to keep children calm and quiet when traveling, whether that means playing their favorite music, letting them bring a safe toy, or talking with them before leaving home.

“Children can read your emotions,” she said. “If you’re uptight, they will be able to sense it.”

More to consider before getting behind the wheel:

1. Don’t strap your children into their car seats with their heavy coats on. In a crash, padding from a coat or thick layers will flatten out, leaving room under the car seat harness. This increases the risk of a child slipping through the straps and being thrown from the car seat. Instead, dress your child in thin layers. Once buckled up, slip the coat on backward with the sleeves on the child’s arms. This way, the coat acts as a blanket and doesn’t affect the fit of the harness.
2. Give yourself extra time to get where you are going. And don't forget to account for traffic. 
3. Pack an emergency bag for your car. It’s a good idea to have blankets, warm clothing, hats, and gloves available in case you become stuck in winter weather. You’ll also want to have nonperishable snacks packed away.
4. Avoid overpasses if possible. Plan out alternate routes to your destination and avoid high traffic areas when possible.
5. Give yourself enough space from the car in front of you to gradually brake. When weather conditions are poor, give yourself double the time it normally takes to come to a complete stop.

Want to know more about winter weather safety? 

Check out these articles from Checkup Newsroom contributors:

• Cold Weather and Kids. How to Keep Your Family Safe at Home, Outside and in the Car. 
• Bracing for Freezing Weather: Plan Ahead to Protect Your Family on the Road
•  Common Winter Mistakes Parents Make
• Cook Children’s Sees Spike in Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Patients During Freezing Temperatures

The National Weather Service previously warned of widespread freezing rain and sleet across North and Central Texas, which left roadways wet and slick.

Going into the weekend and early next week, temperature highs will range in the teens up into the 30s, and some areas are expected to see 2-7 inches of snow. If you don’t have a reason to leave home, please stay inside, stay safe and stay warm. If you have to go out, have a plan in place and rid yourself of any distractions so you can focus on the road.

Proper car seat use is one of the most critical ways parents can keep their young children safe when driving during inclement weather conditions.

“The injuries we see from car wrecks are because parents are making the same mistakes over and over with car seats,” explains Sharon Evans, trauma injury prevention coordinator at Cook Children’s.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents keep their children rear-facing as long as they fit within the height and weight requirements printed on their car seats. Evans says another prevalent issue is the lack of transitioning children into booster seats.

“Children should be in a booster seat until they’re 4-foot-9. We often see parents letting them go into a seat belt too early,” Evans explained.

She reminds parents to keep children calm and quiet when traveling, whether that means playing their favorite music, letting them bring a safe toy, or talking with them before leaving home. “Children can read your emotions,” she said. “If you’re uptight, they will be able to sense it.”

Here are more tips for parents to consider before getting behind the wheel:

1. Leave enough time for your commute. Give yourself extra time to get your children to school and yourself to work, accounting for other drivers on the road.
2. Don’t strap your children into their car seats with their heavy coats on. In a crash, padding from a coat or thick layers will flatten out, leaving room under the car seat harness. This increases the risk of a child slipping through the straps and being thrown from the car seat. Instead, dress your child in thin layers. Once buckled up, slip the coat on backward with the sleeves on the child’s arms. This way, the coat acts as a blanket and doesn’t affect the fit of the harness.
3. Pack an emergency bag for your car. It’s a good idea to have blankets, warm clothing, hats, and gloves available in case you become stuck in winter weather. You’ll also want to have nonperishable snacks packed away.
4. Avoid overpasses if possible. Plan out alternate routes to your destination and avoid high traffic areas when possible.
5. Give yourself enough space from the car in front of you to gradually brake. When weather conditions are poor, give yourself double the time it normally takes to come to a complete stop.

At Home

• Don’t put blankets or other loose bedding in your infant’s sleeping environment. Instead, babies should wear one-piece sleepers or sleep sacks to keep warm while avoiding the risk of suffocation. For more information on SIDS, suffocation and co-sleeping dangers, click here.
• Make sure your home has working carbon monoxide detectors on every level, especially near bedrooms. They should be located at least 15 feet away from fuel-burning appliances. You can find more information about carbon monoxide dangers in this Checkup Newsroom story from 2015.
• Have a fire escape plan ready in case of a house fire. Make sure the whole family knows what to do if the unimaginable happens.

In the Car

• Don’t put your child in a car seat with a heavy coat on. In a crash, padding from a coat or thick layers will flatten out, leaving room under the car seat harness. This increases the risk of a child slipping through the straps and being thrown from the car seat. Instead, dress your child in thin layers. Once buckled up, slip the coat on backwards with the sleeves on the child’s arms. This way, the coat acts as a blanket and doesn’t affect the fit of the harness.
• If using a blanket over a newborn in a car seat, tuck it several inches below the child’s chin to ensure it won’t become a source of suffocation.
• Be mindful of road conditions which may increase the risk of a collision. 
• Pack an emergency bag for your car. It’s a good idea to have blankets, warm clothing, hats and gloves available in case you become stuck in winter weather. You’ll also want to have non-perishable snacks packed away.

When Outside

• Make sure newborns are dressed appropriately. "A good rule of thumb is to dress newborns in as many layers as you're wearing," said Diane Arnaout, M.D., FAAP, a Cook Children's pediatrician in Willow Park. "That includes covering their heads, hands and feet. Those areas can lose a lot of heat and be harder to keep warm."
• For the most warmth, dress your little ones in wool instead of cotton. Essential winter items include hats and gloves, as well as sweatshirts or T-shirts that can be layered under overcoats or jackets. “Infants have the same temperature intolerance as adults, but they lose more heat through their heads,” said Frank McGehee, M.D., a Cook Children’s pediatrician at Fort Worth (Magnolia). “A hat is one of the most important pieces of winter clothing for infants.”
• Blue skin, shivering and a cool chest and stomach are signs that children may be dangerously cold. If you see these signs, take action immediately to get kids out of the cold. Seek immediate medical attention if you're not able to warm the body.

Recognizing Hypothermia

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature, "is a dangerous condition that can occur when a person is exposed to extremely cold temperatures. Stay safe this winter by learning more about hypothermia, including who is most at risk, signs and symptoms, and what to do if someone develops hypothermia." To learn more about the warning signs of hypothermia, click on this site from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Warning signs for adults include:

• Shivering, exhaustion
• Confusion, fumbling hands
• Memory loss, slurred speech drowsiness

Infants:

• Bright red, cold skin
• Very low energy

Victims of hypothermia can include babies sleeping cold rooms.

Then, go inside and get warm. Make hot chocolate with marshmallows. Work together to make a batch of homemade soup. Play cards, board games, or do craft projects. Build a fort or set up a tent so they can play or read books.

When parents need a break, go watch a show or read for a bit. Kids can watch cartoons or play on their mobile devices for a while.

Make some healthy snacks- make popcorn from scratch, celery sticks with peanut butter, cut up fruit and dip in chocolate or other fruit dip; cheese and crackers."

Vanessa Charette, M.D., a pediatrician in Fort Worth: My 7 year old had a blast making colored “crystals” in the kitchen all morning this week. I set him up with a tray of plastic tubes (but cups will do fine), food coloring, water and a dropper and let him mix colors and add water and the “crystals”. He ended up with six different colored bags of crystals.For supplies: All you need are craft water absorbing polyacrylamide gel crystals from a craft store and the food coloring.

We also went sledding! And I let the boys build a giant pillow blanket fort."

Joel Steelman, M.D., endocrinologist: "Entertainment could include bundling up and getting outside. Gotta be safe though with the ice and slipping risk. My daughter and I were out a little over an hour this week, ice sledding on the street. We saw lots of kids using various items – pizza pans, laundry baskets, ect. as impromptu sleds. Just need to make sure that the little ones are warmly dressed and limit outside time. That’s a good active, outside entertainment. For indoors & media that's free - board games, art projectsand puzzles.

And how to you take care of yourself as a parent: "Healthy and sanity as a parent may also include doing a family meal prep together. For me, though, cooking when I’m not rushed is enjoyable. So, I did breakfast for dinner the other night with a little help from my daughter. S’mores if you have an indoor fireplace would be a fun (although not healthy) activity as well."

Kim Mangham, M.D., pediatrician, Keller: Dr. Mangham wants to make sure all the kids are bundled up, before they enjoy the snow. But enjoy the snow! She recommends fun indoor activities such as board games and the family watching a movie together. We recommend her baked oatmeal:

Sandra Peak, M.D., pediatrician, Lewisville: In the Peak household, they have just three words: Chocolate. Chip. Cookies!