Massive winter storm: Montreal Children’s Hospital urging families to be extra cautious

With a snowstorm on the horizon, the Montreal Children’s Hospital (MCH) is urging families to be extra cautious while enjoying winter activities. While snow offers the opportunity for endless fun, improper safety measures can lead to serious injuries.

“Assessing risk and making informed choices is important,” says Debbie Friedman, MCH Trauma Director and Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery at McGill University.

The most common injuries are associated with tobogganing – caused by colliding with solid objects like poles, benches, or rocks. The Children’s recommends choosing hills that are free of obstacles, avoiding those near roads, parking lots, or bodies of water, and always wearing a properly fitted helmet to prevent head injuries. Parents should also ensure young children are supervised at all times and that no more than the recommended number of people are on a toboggan.

Snow forts can also pose a risk. The hospital advises against building roofs or tunnels as they can collapse, potentially trapping children underneath. Instead, families should build open walls and supervise children while playing around snow structures.

With heavy snowfall expected to start Wednesday night, snowplows and other snow-clearing vehicles will be around, and the MCH reminds parents to teach children to stay clear of these vehicles and snowbanks. These large machines have limited visibility, and snowbanks may conceal hidden hazards.

“By working together, parents, children, teens, and local municipalities can reduce the number of injuries by following these safety tips,” says Liane Fransblow, MCH Trauma Centre’s Injury Prevention Coordinator.

Additional tips for a safe winter include shoveling out vehicles before starting them to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, dressing children in appropriate layers to prevent frostbite, and ensuring wet clothing is removed immediately to avoid hypothermia.