KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Wednesday morning, several school districts across Kansas City reopened for the first time this week after the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday and cold weather closures Tuesday. But temperatures will remain in the single digits as children wait at the bus stop and walk to school.
To battle the cold, paramedics at the Overland Park Fire Department suggest dressing children in multiple thin layers of loose clothing. Frostnip, and the more serious frostbite, will first affect extremities like ears, noses and fingers. Plus, hypothermia sets in more quickly for children than adults.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest wearing hats, scarves and gloves or mittens to stay warm. The agency said water-resistant coats and boots make a big difference when it comes to staying warm.
Most experts agree mittens do a better job of keeping your hands warm than gloves, at the expense of dexterity.
Tuesday, the Overland Park Fire Department used a thermal imaging camera to show 41 Action News where heat leaves the body. The imaging proved hats and gloves make a significant difference in retaining body heat.
Temperatures should hit nearly 30 degrees Wednesday afternoon, and a warming trend is expected to bring the KC area into the mid-50s by the weekend.
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