The winter season is a great chance for you and your family to have fun in the outdoors, but you need to take the proper safety precautions.

First of all, never go out without listening to the weather report and then taking the necessary safety precautions. Don’t take foolish risks. If they say that there might be a very strong wind chill or extreme cold, then stay inside the inn or hotel rather than heading far out. And take avalanche warnings seriously! Better safe than sorry.

Second of all, you and your family should be aware of the symptoms of hypothermia, snow blindness and frost bite. You should also know how to treat it in cases of emergency, and provide simple rules for even young children to follow in case they get lost or injured.

Third of all, bundle up. Layer your clothes and wear items that are weather-proof. Be sure that you and your kids have the proper safety gear as well, including helmets, neck guards and mittens. The neck guard should also cover the ears and nose. Avoid any children’s jackets that have draw strings around the neck which can accidentally hook to equipment and pose as a strangling hazard.

Also, you should choose clothes that have a comfortable fit, since very tight clothes can cut off circulation, which increase risks of frost bite. Bright colors are also easier to spot in the snow (save that white winter jacket for city wear).

Fourth of all, it’s best to be indoors by dusk. The lower visibility doubles or even triples the risk of getting lost, and as a tourist you aren’t familiar with the area. This is the same reason why you should avoid taking alcohol before venturing outdoors (have your beer at night, in the safety of your resort restaurant). Fifth, teach children safety measures and be extra vigilant about equipping them with the appropriate safety gear (like helmets and mittens). They should know simple rules like “don’t touch metal when it’s cold” or “don’t throw snow at other people”. What may seem like a harmless snowball fight can end up in injury, since snowballs may have stones or ice chunks that can hurt the eyes (a law suit can put quite a damper on your vacation!). They should never go out without an adult.