T.J. Samson | Destination Health | December 2018

6 DESTINATION HEALTH SET LIMITS. If the wind chill fac- tor or temperature is below minus 15, don’t let your kids go outside. Otherwise, set a time limit for how long they can play outside, and have them come in to warm up every so often. Cold weather play 5 t i ps to keep k i ds sa f e BUNDLE THEM UP CORRECTLY. The rule of thumb for dressing young kids for cold weather is to have them wear one more layer than you would.Thin fabrics are best for layer- ing underneath warm coats, boots, gloves and hats. DON’T NEGLECT SUNSCREEN. Protecting exposed skin from harmful rays is just as impor- tant in winter as in summer.The reflec- tion of the sun’s rays off of snow can actu- ally make rays more powerful. DO WINTER SPORTS RIGHT. Skiing, snowboarding, skating and sledding are activities children should never do alone. They should also wear a helmet to prevent head injuries. Don’t let kids sled around cars or into the road, and instruct them to slide feet-first. CHECK FOR SIGNS OF FROSTBITE. Fingers, toes, ears and noses are particularly vulnerable to frost- bite, a condition in which the skin, and sometimes the tissue below it, freezes. Frostbitten skin may turn white or pale gray and form blisters. If your child shows signs of frostbite, have him or her come inside to gen- tly warm up. Don’t rub the affected skin, and don’t pop any blisters. Place a warm—not hot—cloth on the skin for 20 to 30 minutes. Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; National Institutes of Health; Safe Kids Worldwide For kids, a snow day is usually greeted with pure joy. That’s because winter weather offers plenty of outdoor fun. But the cold also comes with certain dangers. So here are five tips to help keep your little snow bunnies safe. What’s making you SAD? Do you start to feel down or depressed at the same time every year? If so, you may be among the 15 million Americans who have seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. SAD is a kind of depression that comes and goes with the changing of the seasons. Most often, it starts in fall and lasts throughout winter (though it can happen during the summer too). WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? ●  ● Feeling depressed or worthless. ●  ● A loss of interest in doing things you normally enjoy. ●  ● Increased appetite or weight gain. ●  ● Fatigue, despite sleeping more than usual. ●  ● Difficulty concentrating or restlessness. ●  ● Suicidal thoughts. WHO IS MOST AT RISK? ●  ● Women. They are four times more likely to experience SAD than men. ●  ● Those with a history of depression or bipolar disorder. ●  ● Younger adults between 18 and 30 years old. ●  ● People who live far north or south of the equator, where daylight hours are fewer. WHAT TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE? Daily light therapy. Sitting in front of a light therapy box for at least 20 minutes each morning provides the body with some of the sunlight that it is missing. Medication. The most common medication used to treat SAD is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors—a type of antidepressant. These are often prescribed in com- bination with other treatments. Psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people with SAD cope better with negative feelings and find more enjoyment in their day-to-day lives. Vitamin D. While it’s not considered a treatment on its own, there is some evidence to show that vitamin D supplementation may help alleviate symptoms of SAD. Sources: American Psychiatric Association; National Institute of Mental Health