As Tarrant kids enjoy snow days at home, pediatricians give tips for staying safe
Tarrant County children are experiencing two snow days in a row this week as a widespread winter storm passes through the area. Pediatricians have tips on how to stay safe amid the frosty temperatures.
All public school districts in the area have canceled classes on Monday and Tuesday. Children as young as infants and as old as teenagers may be eager to play outdoors while school is out. Dr. Desiree Evans and Dr. Brent Kaziny, pediatric physicians with Texas Children’s, say it’s vital for children to dress in layers and wear non-slip footwear to avoid falls and injuries. Going inside to take breaks from the cold temperatures and to allow outerwear to dry off is also key.
“I think we tend to see a lot of incidents and accidents with sledding as well, something that we don’t get a chance to do very often in Texas,” said Kaziny, emergency management medical director at Texas Children’s.
“One thing that we frequently see in sledding accidents is that parents tend to kind of put the little kid in the front and go down the hill, and then oftentimes there is a tumble that takes place. They kind of lay their full force on that smaller child. So make sure that you’re not doing anything too extreme. No huge hills,” he added, cautioning children to stay away from trees or roads while sledding.
Evans, a primary care pediatrician at Texas Children’s Pediatrics Palm Center in Houston, recommended parents use virtual care options if their child gets injured and they’re unsure about next steps.
“That’s a great resource, especially when it’s cold or it’s difficult to move around, or even get out of the house if it’s snowing and stuff like that. Because that virtual care provider can kind of help you navigate and figure out what’s important or what’s truly necessary for you to take your child to the emergency room or the urgent care right away,” Evans said.
Signs that it might be time to take a break from cold weather are redness or paleness in the face, shivering that’s not going away and changes in energy level or mood, Kaziny said. Both physicians noted to keep a closer eye on infants and toddlers, as it’s more difficult for their body temperatures to stay regulated. In general, children and parents also need to be drinking water and staying hydrated.
If using generators for power, keep them outside while also monitoring carbon monoxide levels inside with meters. Use caution with open flames like fireplaces and candles.
“If you have space heaters in your home, you want to be really, really careful. Some people will sometimes turn on the oven, so you want to be careful; watch out for gas leaks. If you start to smell something that doesn’t smell right, you know, keep your senses on,” Evans said.
If a family loses power in their home, Kaziny recommends everyone gather in one room, preferably one without windows and with closed doors, while layering their clothing the same way they would if they were outside.
“That can be a great first step to kind of staying warm in your home. Using blankets — even making like a little fort that you’re sleeping in, kind of akin to like a tent inside of the house, can do a great job of conserving some of your body heat and keeping you nice and toasty,” he said.
This story was originally published January 26, 2026 at 3:56 PM.
