Millions of Americans are gearing up for freezing cold temperatures, rain, snow, and icy conditions that are expected to sweep the country later this week and over the the coming weekend.
In the South, more than 70 million people are under a winter storm watch from Texas and Arkansas to Alabama and Tennessee, with severe winter weather expected to move east over the weekend. In the Plains, snow is expected to develop by Friday, according to the latest forecast, with the system expected to reach the East Coast by Sunday.
Children are particularly susceptible to cold-related injuries, according to ABC News medical contributor Dr. Alok Patel, a physician at Stanford Medicine Children's Health.
Here is what to know about the risks and how to keep kids safe from wintry weather conditions.
Children, particularly infants and toddlers, are at a higher risk of developing cold-related injuries than adults due to a lack of awareness, and because they tend to lose heat more than adults, according to Patel.
"Children tend to have a higher body surface-to-mass ratio, so there's essentially more room on their bodies to have heat loss," Patel said, noting that children with some underlying medical conditions and those who are taking certain medications are at a higher risk for cold-related injuries because their bodies have a harder time regulating body heat.
When children are exposed to the cold or immersed in cold conditions for an extended period of time, they can develop cold-related injuries such as hypothermia or frostbite, according to Patel.
Patel said those risks are why it is "important to know that even at freezing temperatures -- 32 degrees Fahrenheit -- it can be dangerous to take an infant outside."
"If we get even colder than that, and we're talking 15 to 20 degrees [Fahrenheit], most pediatricians would recommend you stay indoors, and if you must go outside and it's really cold, to make sure that you are taking every precaution," Patel added.
Hypothermia symptoms may include shivering, drowsiness, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, and slurred speech, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Signs of hypothermia in babies may also include bright red or cold skin and low energy.
"If an infant or child is in cold water or out exposed to the elements, it can happen within minutes," Patel said. "But even children who might be out playing and skiing or swimming and not think that they're at risk could still develop hypothermia within 30 minutes to an hour. It all depends on their level of exposure."
Another cold-related injury parents should be aware of is frostbite, described by the CDC as "a dangerous condition that can happen when a person is exposed to extremely cold temperatures," and where there is a loss of color and feeling in limbs and extremities, according to Patel.
Frostbite symptoms include redness or skin pain, white or grayish-yellow skin areas, skin that feels unusually firm or waxy and numbness, according to the CDC. If left untreated, frostbite can lead to serious injury and even amputation in severe cases.
"Imagine if kids are outside and playing with snow, building a snowman, putting their hands in ice, and they're not paying attention to those signs of frostbite," Patel said. "Those symptoms can come in within minutes, and they need to be addressed right away."
During very cold weather, parents should also pay close attention to kids' nutrition and hydration intake.
"Dehydration and poor nutrition can also increase anybody's risk of hypothermia, so it's important that everyone is adequately hydrated, eating nutritious meals before and during any cold-weather activities," Patel said.
Patel recommends parents check weather reports and dress their children in sufficient layers that may include thermal apparel and waterproof or water-repellent fabric.
"You want to make sure that you're dressing your children in layers. It's easier to take layers off if kids get too hot," Patel said. "Also, make sure you're covering those limbs with adequate shoes, high socks, gloves, and a hat, potentially even a neck scarf depending on the weather, because children tend to lose body heat from their extremities, especially their heads, at a disproportionate amount."
Patel recommends that parents bring extra clothes if there is any chance their child may get wet in cold weather, and also pay attention to their child's bedtime clothes and bed coverings.
"A child or an infant who is sleeping in a cold crib without the proper covers or a kid who is out in the snow, or even a child who's swimming and is wet for too long, all of those children can be at risk for hypothermia," Patel added.
The American Academy of Pediatrics warns against putting bulky coats or blankets on a baby before strapping them into a car seat while traveling, as this may cause the straps to fit too loosely.
Instead, it is recommended to strap the baby into the car seat wearing a lighter layer such as a sweater, and then place a jacket or blanket over the top of car seat straps to make sure the baby is both warm and secure.
If a child is too cold, Patel suggests parents encourage them to come inside to warm up, check that they take off any wet and cold clothing, and change into dry and warm apparel.
"The safest way ... is to gently move them to a warmer place, remove any wet clothing, and prioritize warming up their head, their neck, and their chest first," Patel said.
"If they're conscious and talking, it's also a good idea to give them some warm liquids," Patel added. "But please don't ever give warm liquids to someone who is confused, excessively sleepy, or unconscious. And if you have any concern at all, please seek immediate medical help or just call 911."
