SOCASTEE, SC (WMBF) -This week students in the Grand Strand have traded in their flip flops for fur, scarves, and caps.
For parents, however, getting children to dress for the winter weather may be an uphill battle.
"It is a hassle," Wendy Martin said. "All [my son] wants to wear is flip flops and a T-shirt."
Martin works in the medical field as a lab coordinator and says the struggle only gets harder as kids get older.
While doctors say you cannot catch a cold simply as a result of not bundling up, dressing warmly can add another layer to the body's defense.
"It will help our immune system to defend us from possible infections," Dr. Artur Wilkoszewski of Doctors Care explained.
Many area schools including Conway High School reach out to students who may be lacking proper winter clothing.
"I see a lot of children who don't have what they need to keep warm," Conway High School Faculty member Jane Sluder said.
With help, Sluder runs the "Great Tiger Closet" an outreach for students in need to help make sure all kids stay warm and well this winter.
The CDC recommends the following garments to help avoid becoming dangerously cold this winter:
- a hat
- a scarf or knit mask to cover face and mouth
- sleeves that are snug at the wrist
- mittens (they are warmer than gloves)
- water-resistant coat and shoes
- several layers of loose-fitting clothing
They also say to be sure the outer layer of your clothing is tightly woven, preferably wind resistant, to reduce body-heat loss caused by wind. Wool, silk, or polypropylene inner layers of clothing will hold more body heat than cotton. Excess perspiration will increase heat loss, so remove extra layers of clothing whenever you feel too warm. Also, avoid getting gasoline or alcohol on your skin while de-icing and fueling your car or using a snow blower. These materials in contact with the skin greatly increase heat loss from the body.
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